The BBC reports that the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has called for a ban on the game Fortnite, which is popular among teens and millennials. During a recent visit to a YMCA, the prince expressed his opinion about the game and said that he isn’t a fan of social media, either.
Prince sees game as path to serious addiction
The royal prince said that he is not a fan of the popular online multiplayer battle game. The BBC reported that Prince Harry feels that the game could lead to serious addiction. He said, “It’s like waiting for the damage to be done and kids turning up on your doorsteps and families being broken down.”
It’s reported that the Prince said, “It’s created to addict, an addiction to keep you in front of a computer for as long as possible. It’s so irresponsible.” He added that it can lead to compulsive behavior, which is “bad for children and families.”
Regulators are also concerned about its influence on young people. Last year, the U.K.’s Gambling Commission released a survey noting that gambling among children between the ages of 11 and 16 had quadrupled in just two years. Loot boxes are digital rewards, determined by chance, that can be bought with real or in-game money. Results are only revealed after purchase. The 2018 report came amid increased scrutiny by E.U. regulators about the ethics of marketing loot boxes to minors. Since then, Belgium and the Netherlands have banned the practice.
The royal couple, Prince Harry and wife Megan Markle opened a new Instagram account, @Sussexroyal, on April 3 and it already has over 3 million followers. But it appears the Duke isn’t that impressed with social media: During his scornful attack on the worldwide popular game, he also said that social media are “more addictive than alcohol and drugs.”
Fans outraged
Outraged fans have been posting their opinions on the Prince’s comments on social media:
@jwb_tweets: I thought Prince Harry was supposed to be the fun royal. I mean, I agree with him, kids should play something better than that crap, but where has the Prince Harry who partied naked gone.
@alexisthenedd: I’m 99% sure prince harry thinks “fortnite gaming” means playing video games for two weeks straight
@grandayy: Prince Harry only wants to ban Fortnite because he knows he’ll never get a victory royal
Not everyone disagreed with the Prince’s opinion, however. One user wrote:
@ederaki: Prince Harry is right about the effects of video games but banning them is a blatant overreach that won’t fix anything. A good start would be discussing gaming addiction with the same tone as gambling or sex addiction.
Fortnite is an online multiplayer battle royal game that has more than 200 million active users around the globe. It’s free to download and play but players can spend money on in-game purchases. The aim of the game is simply to stay alive for as long as possible.
A match has 100 players and each player frantically battles for survival on an island. The last gamer standing is the winner. Players can play alone or as part of a 4- or 20-person team. The game has bright, cartoon-like graphics that appeal to younger players.