#GamingBytes: 'Fortnite' streamer Ninja dismisses claims of video game addiction
Fortnite by Epic Games is one of the most popular Battle Royale games due to easy accessibility, being free for all. However, the game's popularity has reached such levels that recently a report came out detailing how Fortnite is addictive and causing problems in children. Popular Fortnite streamer Ninja did not like how the game was portrayed and dismissed the claims.
The problem of video game addiction
As per a report, which has now gone global, Fortnite was blamed by parents for making their kids addicted, resulting in less sleep and slipping grades. Besides the control Fortnite has over kid's minds, it has also been linked to rising divorces in the UK. Moreover, the World Health Organization listed compulsive video gaming as a mental disorder showing its rampant rise and risks.
The particular problem with 'Fortnite'
Among rising concerns regarding gaming addiction, one mother, Debbie Vitany said her 17-year-old son, Carson, played Fortnite for 12 hours, expressing concern about the game's control on her child's mind. Lorrine Marer, a child behaviour specialist, compared the game to heroin, and soon a tweet by TicToc (Bloomberg) claimed parents were trying to cure children of Fortnite addiction by sending them to rehab.
Is 'Fortnite' sending children to rehab?
Ninja responds to the accusations
Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins, arguably the world's most popular Fortnite streamer, defended the game. He said bad parenting should be blamed rather than the game's addictive nature. He replied to the tweet saying that title should be 'Terrible parents don't know how to take their kids gaming system away'. Notably, his post attracted more than 32,000 likes, above 800 comments and over 3500 re-tweets.
Keep an open eye while gaming
Gaming addiction is a serious issue but it is likely that only a few kids have severe gaming addiction requiring rehab. As a kid, I grew up gaming and some tough love was always enough for me to return to normal life. Blaming one game instead of parenting technique will increase paranoia. Ninja was right in blaming parents as TicToc also acknowledged.
