You might be more concerned about the rate you can build ramps or running from someone who has got their hands on a SCAR, but one thing you might not think about in Fortnite is what to do when someone does you dirty.
About 50% of you have experienced cyberbullying in a game, so we want to make sure you know all the ins and outs of what’s OK, what’s not and how to report someone in a game. So throw out a Boogie Bomb because Fortnite is going to be even more fun knowing the haters can’t hate.
Why Report Someone?
According to Epic Games who make Fortnite, any breach of the code of conduct can be a reason to report another player, and possibly get them banned. These include:
Abusive language
Using threats, discriminatory language or hate speech counts as abusive language, as does offensive player user names.
Harassment
This can include targeting specific players by making their game play unnecessarily difficult, or their time in the game uncomfortable. This might be constantly attacking only them, following them around the game, encouraging others to team up against them and more.
Breaking the game rules
Epic have started to crack down on players who team up in single player mode to get further in the game. Also exploiting bugs and glitches, impersonating others, and regularly going AFK all fall into this category.
How Do I Report Someone in Fortnite?
Reporting in Fortnite Battle Royale: Select menu icon > Select ‘feedback’ > Select Player > Enter player’s display name in the ‘Player Name’ field > Click ‘Category’ > Select reasons why you are reporting > Write down as much detail as you can in the text field > Select ‘End’
Reporting in Fortnite Save The World: Select menu icon > Select ‘Report Player’ > Select the player’s name you want to report > Select the reason for the report from the options > Optional – you can add additional information here > Select ‘Send Report’
What Else Can You Do?
When the haters got you down, it can be easy to feel like what you once found fun… just isn’t anymore. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to get you back in the game and ruling Tilted Towers once again.
1. Try Not to Get Angry
We know that it isn’t always easy to walk away, but responding in anger can often make a bad situation worse. You could try challenging the behaviour, not the person – so instead of accusing the person of being a ‘bully’, explain why their actions or words are causing you distress. For example, instead of saying “you’re upsetting me”, you could say “what you said/did has upset me”.
Unfortunately, some people troll to actively try to upset other players and they are aware that their behaviour is having a negative impact on you. In these cases, try to walk away from the situation. Why not quit and start a new game where they won’t be present? At least then you could have a few decent runs without any haters in your way.
2. Don’t Seek Revenge
It’s what our Mums always said to us in primary school, but treat others as you would like to be treated. By seeking revenge on someone who has done you wrong, you will not only soon find yourself in a circle of online bullying, but you might end up in trouble with moderators yourself. Be the bigger person and follow the rules of reporting to resolve the situation.
3. Keep a Record
Keeping a record of every time you have faced harassment or abuse in a game is your proof for later. Whilst the reporting system in Fortnite doesn’t allow for screenshot or video uploads quite yet, keeping a record of it is always a good idea in case you need proof further down the line.
4. Tell Someone IRL
It’s important to maintain the relationships you have away from gaming even if you feel like you don’t always want to be around people. That way, when you step away from the keyboard, you still have support. Telling someone such as a parent, sibling or a mate about what’s going on can help you to stop stressing about it.
5. Take a Break with Your Mates
Taking a little bit of a break from the game might be the best thing for you right now if you are facing cyberbullying. Spend a bit of time with your mates, watch a film with the family, or do anything else that you usually love to do when you aren’t at the console or keyboard.
Having a bit of time to clear your head will ensure that you don’t react in anger and will give the mods some time to sort out the issue for you if you have reported it. It will help you see that you have plenty of other good things in your life and that it is actually just a game. Try returning to the game when you have had a bit of a break with some buddies for support – it’ll soon be just fun as it was before.
Cyberbullying is rubbish, especially when it’s going on in your favourite game. If you feel like you need too talk to someone about bullying or anything else that is bothering you, both online and IRL, reach out to the Ditch the Label Community here.
