Know rules to staying ahead of game

If you’re the parent of a young boy, it is quite likely that you are currently being driven mad by Fortnite.

The apocalyptic survival game has attracted millions of fans – research by Internet Matters found it is played by a third of five to 16-year-olds.

Kids with home consoles play on them for an average of two hours a day, despite 49 per cent of parents worrying about it bringing them into contact with strangers.

It is essential you monitor kids’ game playing – nearly a third of children play online against people they have never met, and mostly on headphones.

Find out what sort of games they like, if the content is appropriate, and the age rating – many are rated 18 for a reason.

Ask who they play online, who they talk to, and the kind of language being used in live chat. And check they know how to report abusive chat.

Make sure they never share personal info, and friends they make are kept inside the game – not added on social media.

And warn them about “griefers”, players who use bullying to harass others as a way to make them lose.

For young children, use airplane mode if available to avoid accidental purchases or connecting with strangers.

Finally, agree time limits – gaming can be very addictive.