Does your child play Fortnite? If so, then it is possible that your kid has become the target of bullies within the game. Why? The short answer to that question is that it has to do with virtual clothing called “skins”.
Fortnite is free to play. It can be played on consoles, computers, and phones. The game can be described as a “last man standing”, where the goal is to survive longer than the 99 other players. Kids use the game as a place to hang out with friends and talk, much like teens used to do in shopping malls.
Unfortunately, some kids are being bullied on Fortnite because they are using the default skin that new players automatically start the game with. Bullies refer to these players as “default” – and not only online. Your child might be called “default” at school, too. In other words, the default skin in Fortnite has become a derogatory comment that kids use when they want to be mean to others.
Polygon posted a detailed article about what happens to kids who use the default skin. Some are mercilessly picked on inside the game by bullies who find it amusing to belittle and torment other players. Bullies might record the event and post it on YouTube.
The way to stop being called a “default” is to obtain a different skin. Many are cartoonish and imaginative. While some skins may be earned in-game, it tends to require the purchase of a Battle Pass. Most skins cost real-world money.
Parents may recall being bullied when they were children for wearing clothes that were uncool. Today, kids are being bullied for using a default skin – and picked on both in-game and at school for it. Parents may want to ask their kids how things are going in Fortnite.
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How to Set Boundaries with Fortnite
Are Parents to Blame For School Bullying?