From causing divorces, violence, and sluffing school, Fortnite may end up being the cause of social and mental issues kids are facing nowadays.

Fortnite is the video game trend that took the world by storm in late 2017, and has been exponentially increasing in 2018, becoming one of the most popular games of our time. With the price tag of $0, it makes sense why  many people would want to rush and become part of the craze. But with reports of bad grades, and even divorce stemming from this free online game, Fortnite could be here to hurt instead of help.

According to CNBC, widely seen as the leading business news outlet, Fortnite is the cause for over 200 divorces in the UK. This is not a terribly high number, seeing that it is only about 5 percent of divorces filed, but this is just the beginning. We have been living in an age of technology, and although fascinating, it may be quite bad for a lot of us. With so much more technology, it is creating new addictions for us to take in and abuse until it becomes unhealthy. In the article, spokesperson for Divorce Online says that “addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling have often been cited as reasons for relationship breakdowns but the dawn of the digital revolution has introduced new addictions.” It has become a new drug for us to use under the disguise of a harmless game.

In a poll collected from classes at Bingham High School, only about 12% of students played the game, with about 46% of the people claiming that the game does influence the quality of their schoolwork. Thirty-two percent of people thought that it affects their relationships. And even 67% of people admitted they thought it was addictive.

The online gaming industry is a growing market that is reaching more and more people, especially kids. More and more games are coming out that require online instead of offline play. Whether we like it or not, online games seem to be the future of gaming. So don’t expect as many single player games. We won’t be alone in our electronic worlds forever.

Now Fortnite isn’t all bad. In some ways it can connect us with others all around us. Whether by its online mode where you can talk with others from across the globe, or even doing dances popularized by the massive online battle royale. With all of this said, we still need to monitor how much we play. Maybe instead of going directly to the next game, make sure you finished your homework, and spend time with your family. In small doses, Fortnite can be a fun hobby that everyone can enjoy, but just a little too much can lead to an addiction that’s hard to break.