Addictive games a risk to health, says minister
Highly addictive video games risk having a “damaging” impact on children’s lives, the Culture Secretary has warned, after parents raised concerns about a hugely popular multi-player “survival shooter”. Matt Hancock made the warning after it was revealed that Fortnite, a video game which pits 100 players against each other and is free to play on mobile phones and games consoles, had been downloaded more than 40 million times since its launch in July last year and had been endorsed by several celebrities.
HIGHLY addictive video games risk having a “damaging” impact on children’s lives, the Culture Secretary has warned after parents raised concerns about a hugely popular multiplayer “survival shooter”.
Fortnite, a video game that pits 100 players against each other and is free to play on mobile phones and consoles, has proved hugely popular with children and teenagers.
The game is thought to be particularly addictive because it can be played on mobiles as well as games consoles meaning children are able to play it during school time.
It has been downloaded more than 40million times since its launch in July last year and has been endorsed by a raft of celebrities. Dele Alli, the Tottenham and England footballer, celebrated a goal in the FA Cup semi-final with a signature dance from the game. Drake, the US rapper, and a host of American football stars have helped popularise the game with teenagers, streaming themselves playing online and attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers.
The popularity of the game has led to concerns that it is dominating children’s time. Matt Hancock, the Culture Secretary, told The Daily Telegraph: “Too much screen time could have a damaging impact on our children’s lives. Whether it’s social media or video games, children should enjoy them safely and as part of a lifestyle that includes exercise and socialising in the real world.
“We’re looking at what more can be done in this area alongside game publishers, developers and other agencies to promote safety and support parents.”
The most popular format is Battle Royale, in which 100 players face off against each other initially armed with just a pickaxe, to see who is the last player standing.
Since it was released last summer, the game has been available on consoles including Xbox One and Playstation 4, as well as PC and Mac. It is now available on mobiles.
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner, suggested that the game is “irresponsibly addictive” and urged parents to limit screen time.
She said: “Parents have a responsibility to make sure that children know they can turn off their devices, that they don’t need to be online all the time and that their screen time is healthy, well-managed and productive. At the same time, games companies have a responsibility to ensure their products are not sucking in children with addictive features that encourage them to spend all day on their devices, spending more and more money.
“I know many parents are really worried about the power some games and apps have over their children’s lives and the way they encourage them to keep buying new features.”
The National Crime Agency warned paedophiles could be hijacking the game after one mother from Liverpool claimed her 12-year-old son was offered £50 to perform a sex act. Nigel
‘Many parents are really worried about the power some games and apps have over their children’s lives’
Huddleston, a Tory MP and parliamentary private secretary to Mr Hancock, said: “Game developers must take their responsibilities seriously. They must think carefully about who they are targeting and what messages their content sends.
“It appears that children under the age of 12 are playing this game and it concerns me that some parents claim this game is highly addictive and their children’s attitude changes when playing this game. There is a thin line between entertainment and addiction.
“I wouldn’t want my 12-year-old son to play this game. I’m concerned that some highly addictive games consume huge amounts of young people’s lives, when that time can be spent on more valuable, real-world activities or on more informative and certainly less aggressive screen time activities.”
Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, last night declined to comment.