Fortnite Safety Guide for Parents
A parent's guide to Fortnite, including voice chat, in-game spending, and Epic Games' parental control settings.
Official age
12+
We recommend
12+
Developer
Epic Games
Risks
4
Overview
Fortnite is a hugely popular online battle royale game where up to 100 players compete to be the last one standing. It features colourful, cartoon-style graphics and regular content updates that keep players engaged. The game is free to play but has an extensive in-game store selling cosmetic items for V-Bucks, its virtual currency.
How children use it
Children play solo, with friends, or in squads with strangers in fast-paced battle royale matches. Voice chat is used extensively to coordinate with teammates. Many children are drawn to collecting skins and cosmetic items, which drives in-game spending. The game's social aspect is a major part of its appeal.
Main risks
Recommended privacy settings
Voice Chat
Location: Epic Games Parental Controls → Voice Chat
Set to: Friends Only (or Off for younger children)
Prevents your child from hearing or speaking with strangers during matches. Friends-only mode limits voice chat to their friend list.
Text Chat
Location: Epic Games Parental Controls → Text Chat
Set to: Friends Only
Limits in-game text communication to approved friends, preventing strangers from messaging your child during play.
Purchase Controls
Location: Epic Games Parental Controls → Require PIN for Purchases
Set to: PIN required for all purchases
Requires a four-digit PIN before any V-Bucks purchase can be made, giving you control over all in-game spending.
Weekly Playtime Reports
Location: Epic Games Parental Controls → Playtime Reports
Set to: Enabled
Sends you a weekly email summary of how much time your child has spent playing, helping you monitor screen time.
Parent actions
Set up Epic Games parental controls with a PIN, restricting voice chat and requiring approval for purchases
Time: 10 minutes
Remove saved payment methods from both the Epic Games account and the console's store
Time: 5 minutes
Agree clear boundaries about play time, especially on school nights, and use playtime reports to monitor usage
Time: 10 minutes