Fortnite Safety Quick Reference Guide

Understanding Fortnite Safety

This reference guide provides essential information for parents about Fortnite's safety features, risks, and recommendations based on age. Use this guide to make informed decisions about whether and how your child should play Fortnite.

Remember: The mode your child plays makes a significant difference in safety. Battle Royale and Creative Mode have substantially more risks than LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, or Fortnite Festival.

The Two Key Risk Factors

Two Primary Safety Concerns

Online Chat: Enables direct communication with strangers through both voice and text chat. This is the primary channel through which inappropriate content and potential predators can reach your child.
User-Generated Content: Exposes children to player-created "islands" and content that cannot be fully moderated or filtered. Unlike professionally developed content which undergoes review, user-generated content varies widely in appropriateness.

Fortnite Game Modes: Age Appropriateness

Game Mode	ESRB Rating	Best for Ages	Key Concerns
Battle Royale 100 players compete to be the last standing	Teen (13+)	13+	Combat focus, elimination of other players
Creative Mode Build and play user-created content	Teen (13+)	13+ with supervision	Thousands of unverified player-created islands
LEGO Fortnite Building and exploration with LEGO aesthetic	Everyone 10+	10+	Minimal violence, building-focused
Rocket Racing Arcade-style racing game	Everyone	8+ with controls	No violence, racing competition
Fortnite Festival Rhythm-based music game	Everyone 10+	10+	Music-based, no combat

Age-Specific Recommendations

Under 10 Years Old

Overall Recommendation: Not recommended. Fortnite's primary game modes are not designed for children in this age group.
If allowing: Limit exclusively to LEGO Fortnite (rated E10+) or Rocket Racing (rated E) with maximum restrictions and constant supervision.
Better alternatives: Minecraft's offline mode or private Realms, Nintendo games designed specifically for younger players, age-appropriate single-player games without online interaction.

Ages 10-12 Years Old

Overall Recommendation: Use caution. Some Fortnite modes may be appropriate with maximum parental controls and supervision.
Best modes: LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, Fortnite Festival. Avoid Battle Royale mode entirely at this age.
Controls needed: Create a Cabined Account with accurate birth date, disable all chat features, set up platform-specific controls to restrict party chat, enable purchase restrictions, set daily time limits (1-2 hours maximum).
Supervision Requirements: Gaming only in common family areas, regular check-ins during play sessions, periodic reviews of friends list, conversations about online safety.

Teenagers 13+ Years Old

Overall Recommendation: Age-appropriate with proper guidelines and ongoing communication.
Recommended Controls: Adjust based on individual maturity level, consider reasonable time limits, enable purchase restrictions if necessary, receive weekly reports.
Supervision Approach: Transition from direct supervision to ongoing conversations, maintain gaming in common areas when possible, regular check-ins about experiences, discuss healthy gaming habits.
Benefits at This Age: Can develop strategic thinking and planning skills, potential for positive social connections with peers, opportunity to practice digital citizenship.

Essential Safety Setup Checklist

Create account WITH CORRECT BIRTH DATE - this is vital for activating age-appropriate protections
Set up Cabined Account for children under 13 (automatically created with correct birth date)
Configure Epic Games parental controls with a secure 6-digit PIN
Disable or restrict chat features according to age and maturity level
Set up platform-specific controls (Xbox/PlayStation/Switch/PC) to block platform chat
Establish time limits using both Epic's controls and platform controls
Require PIN for all purchases to prevent unauthorized spending
Enable weekly email reports to monitor usage
Keep gaming in shared family spaces for easier supervision
Create clear rules about approved game modes based on age

Critical Gaps to Be Aware Of

Platform chat loophole: Children can bypass Fortnite chat restrictions using console chat (Xbox Party Chat, PlayStation Chat, etc.)
No whitelist feature: There's no way to restrict play to only official Epic Games content or whitelist specific islands
Limited monitoring: Weekly reports show only total playtime, not which game modes or islands were played or who your child interacted with
All content visible: Even when content is restricted, all games remain visible in the interface but labeled as "locked," creating unnecessary temptation

Beyond Technical Controls

Essential Parental Practices

Have regular conversations about online safety - This is more effective than technical controls alone
Monitor who your child is playing with - Regularly check their friends list
Know the warning signs - Watch for hiding screens, unusual secrecy, irritability when asked to stop playing
Create balance with other activities - Set clear time limits and ensure variety in activities
Play together occasionally - This helps you understand their experience and builds trust

Remember: Start More Restrictive

Common Sense Media recommends that parents "start with the most restrictive settings and gradually allow more freedom as your child demonstrates responsible behavior," rather than starting with full access and adding restrictions after problems arise.

Next Steps: Implementing Fortnite Safety Controls

Review this guide with all adults who supervise your child's gaming.
Complete the safety setup checklist before allowing your child to play Fortnite.
Create a written "gaming contract" with your child that clearly outlines expectations and boundaries.
Check all settings regularly, as updates may sometimes reset configurations.
Be prepared to adjust controls based on your child's behavior and maturity level.