Fortnite, Boys, and Self-Control

You obviously never played a video game in your life.

I thought I was actually going to agree with something. But alas, he spoils it with typical nonsense about the permissive parent being the cause of all the problems in the world. Just a right wing rant, in other words. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with playing video games, he is suggesting, it is the failure of parental control and "guidance" which is the problem. He thinks this involves treating children like naughty puppies, forcing them to eat broccoli in order to get the reward, a sweet treat (which negates any health benefits of eating broccoli in the first place}. What a clown. His style of parenting is just an ego trip. This is the very sort of parenting which drives kids into the arms of fantasy and escapism. I would escape if I has this idiot for a dad.

If you focus on your academic and co-curricular when you need to, get it done by when you need to, and do the best you can in it, plus play Fortnite in your spare time (even if it is for a few hours) then what is the issue? That basically sums up me: great grades and test results but I also play tonnes of Fortnite. Also, Fortnite isn't as violent as other games; there is no blood and the characters are cartoon styled. You just can't compare it to Call of Duty or other games like that. Honestly, were you ever a child?

It's not just violent games specifically, it's screens and the internet in general. Kids don't know how to be kids anymore. They would rather sit for hours killing and exploring a virtual world than explore the one we live in. Being outside in nature has been proven to improve mental and physical health. People wonder why mental illness rates are skyrocketing but the answer is ridiculously obvious. IMO.

This is a terrible article. Your studies and articles used to support your biased point are from other notoriously biased institutions that are known for having case studies swayed towards their preferences. One article was overseen by Victor Strasburger, the same guy that believes Mexican children will never be able to succeed in the same way as American kids because "they have the sense of poverty engraved into their DNA." This guy also tests for aggression in video games by making a kid play a game for 15 minutes and then measuring the amount of hot sauce the kid puts on food. If you are going to use case studies, please find some conducted by researchers of this generation.

If you have a problem with your kid playing Fortnite then sit down and talk to him. Explain playing in a healthy moderation, discuss how the violence in games is not real and is just fantasy, and why not just spend 15-20 watching your kid play or even asking to play for a few minutes just so you can understand what your kid is playing.

Do not treat video games and violence as a horrible taboo that is not natural. Educate your kid to make rational decisions and everything will be fine.

I'm guessing that both the author and the 'brilliant' people from the American Academy of Pediatrics (who we know have a wonderful track record when it comes to knowing things like what side a baby should sleep on) have never even played a video game. Of course, this is a stereotypical and cherry-picked abomination from a bunch of old men and women who are blindly afraid of video games. A few things that were simply ignored by this article were the facts that many people who play Fortnite play it with personal friends (that means people they know face-to-face), and that, despite the huge number of players, there is no drastic decline in grades (because of course, you can't waste time with something other than video games).
Simply stated, this article is representative of the ignorance and arrogance of the communities who, rather than fulfilling their actual purpose by aiding in new generations' health, blame everything on video games. They don't blame it on their own failures as parents and grandparents, their inability to maintain a stable economy, their ignorant condemnation of progress, or their own record of complete idiocy and 'scientific' conclusions that they change every couple of years.

You belong in a museum.

Scary to think that you believe to forbid your son to play, that he won't play. You must be on Trump planet.

Instead of just putting the game down like that, when it is made clear to us that you clearly have no clue on what the game is about and why it is so good, why don't you 'research' like you and your 80 year old friends seem to do with everything else? Also, this is the worst time to write an article like this, as you now have around 40 million haters if all Fortnite players know about what you have said. Sorry to scorn you like this but it is true in many ways.

So, teens are not allowed to play slightly violent games but are allowed to play games that have been proofed to cause extreme gambling addictions aka Candy Crush??? And who wants to play Wii Bowling? Come on.

Here and there in the comments are attacks on Trump and the Right. IRL (in real life) almost every single assassin/shooter to a man has been a leftist wackjob.

I'm a gamer and a mum. Children should not be playing violent video games PERIOD. They have age ratings / certifcates for a reason folks.

Kids need to be challenging thier brains, expanding thier minds and exercising thier growing bodies.

Time limits and explainig why certain games are off limits intill they are older is common sense. This is basic healthy bondries that good parents should be setting for thier kids to feel secure.

I would like to start with your first point, Undermines school performance. I play video games for hours on end and have nearly perfect grades. My two brothers play video games for even longer and have perfect grades. My point here is you can't cure stupidity, if someone is getting bad grades, its most likely not video games, but his or her own fault. Your second point, increased distractibility, which applies to all electronics, not just video games, is a problem for kids anyway. Its just a given that school is boring with ridiculous amounts of pointless information that you will forget in a few years. The third point you make claiming they erode parent child relationship could be true in some cases, but in my experience, it is not true. I would like to state that there has never been a link found between video games and violence, and if there is, they most likely picked kids for were already violent to begin with. Learning face to face social skills is done perfectly fine at school, kids don't NEED to be physically active, and they don't NEED a good nights sleep. I have communicated with several people on this, and we came to the conclusion that the necessary amount of sleep is six hours, it is just recommended to get more. This could be different for other people though. Also, if a kid is addicted to fort night to the point where they won't sleep, the parent has a completely different problem. They have a child who lacks self control. I would like you to emphasize why playing games where you are killing "virtual people" is a problem. Again, there is no correlation between video games and violence. Excessive time playing video games isn't a problem for a kid who has self control. Getting homework and chores done after video games also isn't a problem for someone with self control. I do believe that a parents job isn't to make their child happy, but it also isn't a parents job to completely restrict a child, especially a teenager. It just isn't healthy and can lead to family issues in the long term. I just got to the part on self control, and I completely agree with it. However, the techniques listed for teaching a child self control are for young children. By the time a kid turns thirteen, he or she should have enough self control so that you don't have to employ these restrictive tactics. I would like to see the study showing the increase in anxiety and depression being linked with permissive parents. I am sure there are many other factors involved that issue. Obviously, a parent that is too permissive can have terrible results, but a parent that is too restrictive is just as bad, and if not, worse. Taking your kid for a hike in the outdoors is always a good thing to do occasionally, as I believe one of the true problems for teens is laziness. I also agree that a child's popularity doesn't matter. For me, video games are not a lazy, violent way to burn off steam, but an easy, cheap, and great way to have a good time. I could even argue that video games are healthy, but that is for another time. But honestly, I would prefer to paintball any day over video games, but who has the money for that?

I wanted to love to love this article but instead I’m very disappointed. For starters, the writer seems to think the biggest population playing this game (that we should be concerned about) are teenagers. Come on! This obsession has reached the masses of elementary school boys, including large numbers of kindergarten and first grade boys. Writers, please, address the real issue here. Parents are choosing to have clean houses, quiet houses, and safe kids by plopping them in front of this game for the sake of their own sanity. When I ask parents why they allow their kids to play these are the answers I get. “Video games are God’s gifts to parents. My kids don’t fight anymore. My house is clean bc they could care less about their toys now. And I know they are safe and alive in our house vs the unsafe world of reality.” I hear, “it’s a source of fun!” Parents explain, “technology is the future. It makes our kids smarter.” Parents also believe setting limits on the game teaches children how to self regulate and use self Control. These same parents argue theirckids do what they are told as of thinking for themselves is not an important lesson in life. I could go on and on.... what about the fact that parents think letting their 5-8 year olds play online with stranger adults is safer than letting them bike around the block or to the park with friends?

I agree that teens are probably on line, on their phone, playing video games, messaging friends, or developing more virtual relationships with strangers etc. However, I’d argue that teenagers and parents of teens, have always fought these battles. These battles are not much different than late night talking on the phone, writing notes to friends all hours of the night, meeting strangers at parties, etc etc etc. Teens are supposed to be practicing self control, safety awareness, time management, priorities, healthy vs unhealthy relationships, fighting with parents about what they can and cannot do. 5-8 year olds, not so much. These are not the life lessons of our youngest learners who’s brains and bodies are just developing, who are literally supposed to be learning how to interact with real people, make friends, use their imagination be creative via play, build motor skills and coordination, learn to read, learn empathy and kindness, learn manners and respect for parents rules but also how to make safe choices. This game is stealing childhoods. What will happen to these kids when they are teenagers? What happens when little kids that are not given the opportunity to just be kids? I want to hear about these kids, these teens.

Strong boundaries are good for children. The parent should set limits and ensure adequate time is spent on homework, rest and physical activities. Children should be prevented from gross over indulgence and encouraged to take part in social activities. That is all true but beyond that the article is way off base.

The idea that video game violence causes a propensity to violence in the real world has been controversial for decades with at least as much research evidence against it as for it. The fact that general levels of violence have fallen throughout the period when violent video games have been introduced and proliferated should give anyone who believes this, despite the mixed research evidence, pause for thought. I grew up before video games existed and as children we played outdoors unsupervised typically when I was young playing 'war', cowboys and indians etc. Did this encourage violence or was it natural and healthy play for boys? Should parents have come out and prevented us playing like this?

I am concerned the author regards typical interest and activities of young boys as undesireable and that attitude is at least as dangerous as video games.

The same amount you spend on this website or writing this article shouldn't you have been outside? growing, moving, and what ever else?

Fornite has shown to be one of the few games out there that are teaching young kids mid to high level critical thinking skills that when they aren't playing it they can use.

How about we write an article focusing on balance within one's life? Yes say no to your kid playing any kind of game at 1AM whether it be Fornite, or one of the outside activities you spoke of, because being a kid up at 1AM is not okay. So when the parent gets this pattern going for the child they will grow up to be adults who will probably only stay till 1AM sometimes.

BALANCE IS KEY IN ALL THINGS. STOP BLAMING THINGS SUCH AS FORNITE FOR THE LACK OF BALANCE IN A KID, OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER, LIFE.

Remember, to much of anything is a always a bad things. Playing outside to much = bad, eating to many veggies = bad, being to nice = BAD. BAAAALAAANCEEEEEE.

"It follows that a top priority for a wise parent must be to teach self-control. Your child will not learn self-control by playing Fortnite for hours at a stretch. So how do you teach self-control? One good first step might be to say, “No dessert until you eat your broccoli. "

OKAY. Maybe I am just a dumbass college student who tries to learn something from everything I do? Like wtf. God I can't with this article, and half of the comments as well.

I make it a habit to not talk about things I have no idea about, perhaps most of you should too....smh.
By the way, that wasn't meant to be offensive just honest criticism. Comments can be misinterpreted as rude on the internet because one cannot hear the other's tone, but I used a very calm and nice tone while I thought about my comments; therefore, they were not meant to offend in any way shape, or form.

Wow, well done, Dr. Sax! Watch them squirm! How dare you criticize their addiction? When an adolescent can't take criticism, they'll say you don't know what you're talking about or you want to control their life. Why are they so defensive for some lame video game that consumes hours of their lives that they can barely remember and sequesters them from the reality of a healthy lifestyle and personal relationships? They sound like hardened alcoholics! "I don't have a problem". "Binge-drinking alcohol is really good for my critical thinking skills!" "I can drink all night and get up the next morning and have a productive life!" "Getting plastered never interferes with my personal relationships!" In summary, they are willing to surrender their mental and physical health, and future contentment, for a puerile video game. They have a new religion; watch them bow down and pray, and attack any heretics who point out their folly.

Dear Dr. Sax
Setting limits is always a reasonable compromise for kids to earn time pursuing activities they like - once their responsibilities are met.
I have to take issue with other not so salient points.
Grown-ups quickly forget how difficult school is. Belittling the importance of popularity from the lofty view as an adult does nothing to help a child navigate the tricky halls of Misery High or the diabolical pathways of puberty. Sometimes it's more that kids want to blend - not fit - in and those years are tortuous! I would also be remiss if I didn't point out the soaring rates of suicide in young men since the onslaught of social media / iphones in 2012. Now those are some worrisome statistics.
The aim of Fortnite is to outlast 99 other players through strategies that include building, hiding and yes, weapons. It is also a community where you can work in groups and talk to 3 or 40 of your friends as you play which debunks the loner skulking in the basement myth.
Another point I'd like to make is how much press acceptance of mental illness is getting yet when kids are more comfortable speaking on a microphone on their headset than addressing the student council, we want to label them as troubled. Sometimes, not always. From a parent of a kid who plays multiple sports year round and regularly spends time in the great outdoors and is an avid reader, a little screen down time to decompress is not an unreasonable request.
Fortnite's popularity is only growing and it is going to continue on its epic trajectory. It's challenging, educational, addicting, engrossing and most of all fun.

This article was nothing short of click bait. Of course kids need to learn self-control when it comes to video games, and parents need to have boundaries. He basically threw Fortnite in the title and lumped it with very violent first person shooter games, like COD and GTA. He then went on to say that Madden is OK, NBA is OK, and Candy Crush is OK. My kids have had no self-control when it comes to Madden and NBA, especially during those seasons. I’ve spent many hours on Candy Crush when I should be doing other stuff. Many kids and adults have no self-control when it comes to those games either.

Had the author titled the article “Self-Control and Video Games” everyone would scroll on by. Just another article to make some parents feel guilty and some feel validated, but sadly, it was not well done.

I first of all did anyone notice that Dr. Sax pretty much only said boys play video games. He mentioned girls like once

Having observed the behaviour of my 9-year old son, and his circle of friends, over the summer, I have come to a conclusion that Fortnite can be seriously harmful for younger kids. These young 'gamers' have many behavioural traits of drug addicts: they prefer Fortnite over all other activities, they spend their non-playing time talking about Fortnite and watching Fortnite clips on YouTube. If they are not allowed to play at home, they go over to a friend where they can play.

All of this would still be borderline ok if it had stopped there. However, in the case of my son, he has started to have trouble coping with normal social interaction in school, with friends and with extra-curricular activities. He is sensitive and in hindsight, it was a mistake to let him start playing in the first place.

He has played videogames before and like the author, I don't see any great harm in videogames as such. However, a game like Fortnite, which is masterfully engineered for maximum addictiveness and dopamine creation, can be very harmful for young boys that still lack internal mechanisms for setting boundaries.

Bottom line, I have seen the harm that Fortnite can cause and can assure you that instead of videogames giving him the 'spatial skills needed in advanced math and engineering', I would much rather have a son with strong social skills that enable him to lead a happy life.

You have got to be kidding me. I could pull up countless studies proving that video games do not cause violence. Who gave you a cycology degree?

I am the parent of two boys who are not allowed to play Fortnite. While I don't agree with the broccoli advice, I appreciate that you focus on self control and social skills. These will get you far in life. Kids need to be kids and play outside with friends (FACE TO FACE). We are watching an entire generation of children develop into adults with fewer social skills than their parents. I am a preschool educator and I have seen more and more children need social/emotional support. I don't feel this is due to violent video games, but instead by the anxiety of their parents (with social media being a contributing factor), combined with excessive amounts of screen time. You aren't saying we should ban video games, just violent ones, and limit the amount of time kids are on screens. Thank you!

"Madden NFL Football is fine."
"Madden NFL Football is fine."
"Madden NFL Football is fine."

3 months later...

David Katz, Madden shooter.

"Fortnite makes kids more violent." Yeah, no. Kids who play Fortnite are more violent before playing the game and are more drawn to it. I'm not saying kids have to be violent before to play the game but I'm just saying.

Also if all games that include killing other living beings should be banned in till they're 18, doesn't that mean Minecraft is banned. Oh, and meteors vs spacecraft's, plants vs zombies and don't forget roblox!
Yeah you get the point, they're basically retards.
I just wanted to finish this with a very famous quote from Albert Einstein.

"You fat cunt" - Albert Einsteine 2019
Kind regards, A gay guy

Need I say more.

worst thing i've read today and i was on r/the_donald. whoever gave you your degree needs to stop teaching in the psychology field IMMEDIATELY.

I'm a gamer too and I play around 6 hours a day. I thought it was fine, but about 2 days ago, my stomach started hurting, continuously. I got really concerned and went to the doctor. He told me it must have something to do with my video games. Yesterday, my lower regions started hurting. I looked down and my dick was half a centimeter long. I feared that it would continue to shrink and the video games were the obvious cause. I haven't stopped playing though, because I am so addicted that I have terrible headaches without the video games. Today in the morning, my nipples were getting huge, about the diameter of a small pizza. They are soggy and I don't know what to do. Video games are evil and the obvious cause. If your child plays any video games, even on their phone smash their devices, THIS NEEDS TO STOP. Also impeach Trump and don't vaccinate your kids.

Thanks,
Hope I saved lives