It's important that you stay safe whilst doing the things you enjoy online, like playing computer games such as Fortnite Battle Royale.

So lets take a look at some tips to stay safe IRL whilst getting that Victory Royale in-game.

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is a hub with a variety of experiences where players can play, create, and hang out with friends. Fortnite has experiences made by Epic, including Battle Royale and LEGO Fortnite, and more than 260,000 games and experiences made by developers.

When is the new Fortnite season?

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 is currently underway. It began on November 29 2025. This season is called Pacific Break, and features a Holywood theme, featuring skins from movies including Back to The Future. This action packed season will run until March 4 2026 when it will be replaced by Chapter 7 Season 2.

How to report online bullying in Fortnite

One of the best things about Fortnite is that you can play online with your friends and other people. While this is often really fun, there is a chance that you might come across hurtful language, prejudice, bullying, swearing, and other things that can be upsetting.

Fortnite apply high-privacy, default settings for players under 18: voice and text chat are turned off and player profile details are hidden, as examples. Players under 16 also have the mature language filter, which filters out various kinds of mature language and toxicity, defaulted to on for text chat.

If you are in a situation you feel uncomfortable with, it’s important to talk to someone you trust about this. They will be able to offer you support. Players can block and mute other players in-game and players can report behaviour they think violates the rules using voice and text reporting so action can be taken.

Set a spending limit and watch out for scams

With so many in-game cosmetics available to purchase from the Fortnite Item Shop like skins, emotes, 'brellas and pickaxes, you may be tempted to splurge those V-Bucks. But before you go on a shopping spree, take a look back at your previous purchases – are you still using those items and do they still seem like good value today? This can inform your future purchasing choices.

If you are worried that you might accidentally overspend on the Fortnite Item Shop, then you might want to have a chat with your parents, or guardian, and ask them to set up spending limits in the parental controls section of your account.

If you've unintentionally purchased an item from the Item Shop with V-Bucks, there is a chance you can cancel that item and get a refund, so long as you haven't used it in-game yet. Only Items purchased within the last 24 hours are eligible. Epic Games offers protections against unwanted purchases including a hold-to-purchase mechanic, instant purchase cancellations, self service returns for shop purchases and payment information is not saved by default.

You should also stay clued up on how to keep your account safe and secure from scammers and hackers. You can find some tips about how to stay scam safe here.

Watch your game time

Playing Fortnite could be a fun way to spend your time, but make sure you keep track of how long you've been playing! Dr Sheila Redfern, clinical psychologist from The Anna Freud Centre, told us that you can learn to read the signs that gaming is getting too much and it’s time to do something else. Dr Redfern said, "If you feel yourself getting angry, stressed, irritable or anxious this could be a sign that you need to take a break." Parents can also use Fortnite’s Time Limit Controls and Time Reports to set daily time limits and view how much time their child spends in Fortnite.

As we approach revision season for your exams, you might want to build gaming into a revision timetable. It's important to get that study-life balance right, so you should plan time for something fun, like gaming, into your day – just make sure you get the right balance between revision and play. You should try and plan a variety of activities into your day alongside revision, including exercise and time away from your screen.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.

If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.