ECU professor Lelia Green tells parents to ‘chill out’ over kids playing Fortnite

Parents worried about their children playing the popular online shooter game Fortnite need to “chill out” according to a Perth academic who argues it has many benefits.

Despite claims the game is violent and being used by white supremacist groups to radicalise teenagers, Edith Cowan University professor of communications Lelia Green said that in moderation it was good for children.

She is speaking at an international conference about children and the internet in Perth this week, hosted by ECU.

With more than 40 million people worldwide playing Fortnite, Professor Green argues there are many social benefits from this latest gaming craze, particularly the newer version, Battle Royale.

“There are 100 people ‘real’ people playing against one another, rather than characters generated by a computer, and it’s a battle to the end,” she said.

“It’s true there is a lot of carnage going on — at least three people killed a minute — but it’s a car-toony version, not blood and gore.

“As far as protecting your children from evil influences, it’s much less realistic and compelling than evening news bulletins.”

Dr Green said the game used elements of strategy and did not require a high-end computer.

“It uses fast-moving targets so it uses a lot of ‘twitch shooting’ which tests fast reflexes and this is an area where 14-year-olds are at an advantage, because their reflexes are really good.

“A game takes about 20 to 30 minutes which means it also fits better into family life and around homework.

“I would recommend that parents sort out what they feel are the really important things that they persuade their children to do, or not to do, and the chances are that game-playing is not a problem unless it becomes a problem.”

Locking kids out of playing online games with their friends could leave them feeling left out.