Can kids talk to people on Fortnite?
Fortnite is an extremely popular online game enjoyed by millions of kids worldwide. As with any social platform, there are legitimate concerns about whether kids are safe while communicating with strangers in the game. So, can kids talk to people on Fortnite?
Answer: Yes, kids can talk to people on Fortnite, but there are options to limit this functionality under parental control settings. If you’re concerned about online safety, read on for more information on Fortnite’s communication features and tips to ensure your child’s experience is safe and enjoyable.
Parental Controls for Voice Chat
Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, understand the need for parental controls in modern gaming. As such, they have implemented voice chat options that can be monitored and restricted to keep unwanted interactions at bay.
According to Epic Games, users under the age of 10 can only communicate through voice chat if they set their voice chat setting to "Friends Only" when playing with friends who they have added as friends before. This way, parents can ensure their kids don’t accidentally engage with unknown players.
For players older than 10, you can set your voice chat setting to "Friends and Teammates" to maintain a level of social control. This means that Fortnite will only allow players with whom you are a "friend" or teammate, as designated within the game, to interact through voice chat.
Turning off Voice Chat Completely
Needless to say, every parent wants the ability to turn off voice chat, especially if you’re particularly concerned about your child interacting with strangers online. While Fortnite doesn’t allow kids to completely turn off voice chat, you can choose "Everybody" as their voice chat option, granting them the freedom to participate in voice chats without limitation. However, remember, this setting should be employed sparingly and only after thoroughly teaching your child online etiquette.
Additional Tips for Staying Safe in Fortnite’s Voice Chat
Before joining a voice chat on Fortnite, make sure to adhere to these best practices:
• Verify friendships online: Ensure you are online friends with players you connect with in Fortnite, following the game’s official friends system.
• Discuss online safety with your kid: Educate your kid about online dangers and basic safety rules for voice chatty interactions, like saying "no" or getting out of conversations if unwanted.
• Watch friend requests: Regularly oversee your child’s friend list and block or limit unsolicited friend requests from people you don’t trust or know.
• Turn off voice chat while waiting for friends to join : If you or your child is waiting for teammates to join, remember, voice chat might allow outsiders to join as well – so, switch to Party Chat or simply exit.
• Communicate when leaving a server When leaving a voice chat (server), use proper sayings like "GG! (Good Game) have fun, stay safe kids!" to close interactions friendly and responsibly.
• Stay informed about your kid’s online activities.
Keep "Everybody" option switched off : Turn back to "Friends and Tealates" (more restrictive) setting unless allowed by your kid. They should be educated, your kid, of appropriate chatting rules.
Monitoring In-Game Voice Chats
To help safeguard in-game voice chats for yourself or your kid:
- The “Report Chat” Button**: Fortnite’s official, built-in chat moderation functionality allows you to **directly report unsolicited requests or unwanted behaviors within Fortnite’s voice chats.
- **Contact Parent Account Support**: Report concerning actions or behavior with Parent account support, or any incident that may put children involved in the server
- **Supervise your child during game activities**: Monitor, if that’s possible. Pay keen attention to interactions
There you have it: how kids can communicate in Fortnite, and steps for concerned parents to help them protect their child from online risk.