Fortnite: What Parents Should Know About Online Gambling

Millions of people have played the extremely popular online game Fortnite since its inception a year and a half ago. Players fight with guns and other weapons on a fantastic island or work together in "creative fashion".

According to a 2018 survey by Common Sense Media, 61% of American teenagers played the game, while 24% of parents worry about how much their kids spend on the game.

Dr. Sue Varma, a certified psychiatrist and adjunct professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, told "CBS This Morning" playing games like Fortnite gives kids a glimpse of the dopamine hormone.

"We find that just anticipating video games can increase your dopamine by 70% in the brain, which is a pleasure and reward system, but the problem is that these young children, their developing brains The gasoline has no foot on the brake, so they do not have the same control and the same regulation.The children do not know when to stop, "said Varma.

She stated that players can develop a "desire" for games and that, when they are interrupted, they can become extremely irritable. She said that there were even cases of violence, where children broke into their parents' car to get their devices or even steal credit cards in order to play.

"Most children are able to regulate their play. But we find that children who are more vulnerable, who are prone to depression or anxiety, or who have difficulty making friends, could use this as a form of care. Adaptation or avoidance, "she said. .

Parents worried about playing time should set limits. This may involve setting a timer that stops the game after a predetermined time. This could give children the choice to play the game or choose another activity, such as playing an outdoor sport or participating in another family game.

Even with rules restricting video games, Varma said parents should watch for warning signs, such as:

• A lack of self care
• A child stops eating
• A child withdraws from his friends
• Talk about death or suicide

"So many parents are afraid to ask difficult questions because they think that they will plant seeds in the minds of their children," Varma said. "Let me tell you that these thoughts, if they exist, have existed for years, so know the warning signs."