On line game Fortnite warning
Many of you may be aware of the risks and concerns around children playing the online game Fortnite, which has a 12 rating but is played by much younger children.
We have been made aware of an emerging trend, where people are playing strip Fortnite using webcams. The rule is that when you achieve a “kill” you have to strip off, potentially adding an additional risk from children being exposed to and/or sharing indecent images whilst playing the game.
Please could you be vigilant about your child's on line activities and please report any inappropriate/unlawful contact with children online.
Staying Safe Online – Fortnite advice
Fortnite is a popular strategy survival game for PlayStation 4 , Xbox One , Windows, and Mac which combines Minecraft resource collecting and building with team based survival shooting games. The main action is shooting and attacking with melee weapons, but players can also build fortifications and work with teammates to defend survivors from waves of enemy monsters. Fortnite has leapt to greater popularity with its Battle Royale mode that can be played for free and pits up to 100 players against each other while a mysterious cloud steadily reduces the size of the war zone, creating knife edge and climatic gun fights.
However we would like to remind parents whose children play ‘Fortnite’ to take steps to ensure they’re staying safe online. We would also like to remind you that in the UK the Video Standards council rate Fortnite as PEGI 12 for frequent scenes of mild violence. It is not suitable for persons under 12 years of age.
The NSPCC have advice for parents amid concerns over a game function that automatically allows users to speak to other players through voice and text chat functions. It means children can be contacted by anyone else who is playing the game. Users can disable voice chat in the game via the settings menu, but the text chat function cannot be turned off.
The NSPCC offering parents the following advice:
For more advice please visit the following site:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
Useful Websites:
The following websites provide a wealth of information, advice and guidance on all e-safety related matters.
https://www.internetmatters.org/
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Snapchat: 'Snap Maps'
Snapchat has introduced a new feature which can potentially allow someone to track your location.
The following advice can be found from the UK Safer Internet Centre:
Given how specific this new feature is on Snapchat - giving your location to a precise pinpoint on a map - we would encourage users not to share their location, especially with people they don’t know in person.
There are three settings for sharing your location on the map, these are; Ghost mode, My Friends, and Select Friends. But what do these settings mean?
When first opening the Snap Map users get to make a decision of who they want to be able to view their location. Once these settings are in place they can always be changed in Snapchat’s settings. This can be done in two ways:
Sharing location can be a risky thing to do. Our tips for location sharing are:
‘POKÉMON GO’ game
The supervising lead for Safer Schools Officers across Leeds has given the following advice for players:
· Be cautious to alerting strangers to where you will be in the future
· Be careful where you leave ‘beacons’
· Parents should supervise children when using the app
· Always pay attention to your surroundings and especially do not play in areas where traffic runs through or in dangerous
locations such as around water, cliff tops, craggy outcrops and mountainous regions.
· Where possible play with friends and stay in a group and have at least one of your friends as a ‘lookout’
· Play at home - you can use lures to attract Pokémon to you
· Keep your device safe and out of sight – your phone will vibrate when a Pokémon is near
The makers of the game have said:
“We encourage all people to be aware of their surroundings and to play with friends or family, especially when you are exploring unfamiliar places. Please remember to be safe and alert at all times”