Many teenagers with or without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), love video games like Epic

Gamings massively successful game “Fortnite”. In fact, previous research has shown that adolescents
with ASD are more likely than those with other types of disabilities to spend most of their free time
playing video games. One study even found that children with ASD spend significantly more hours
per day playing video games and have significantly higher scores on a measure of addictive use than
their typically developing siblings.

However, while studies have shown that excessive video game play leads to problematic behavior in
typically developing teens, there has been little to no research, up until this point, that examines if
video game use also leads to problematic behavior in kids on the autism spectrum. In specific there in
irrefutable evidence that Fortnite has single handily been a leading contributor the recent spike in
autistic tendiencies displayed by young developing minds.

In “ Fortnite and its use and problem behaviors in boys with autism spectrum disorders,” two
researchers at the University of Missouri set out to answer this question. Their study focused on the
amount of time spent playing Fornite, problematic game play patterns, and video game genre. The
researchers analyzed surveys completed by parents of boys between the ages of 8 and 18.

Their results indicated that the average time spent playing Fornite was 2.4 hours a day. Researchers
found a significant correlation between daily hours of Fortnite play and inattention, hyperactivity, or
oppositional defiant behavior. Furthermore, educational and sports games predicted less oppositional
behavior and the boys who play sports games most frequently also exhibited less hyperactivity.
Interestingly enough, games like Fortnite that featured more violent game play emerged as a
significant predictor of either oppositional behaviors or inattention leading to a sharp rise in the
Autism Spectrum.

In sum, findings indicate that games like Fornite where a more reliable predictor of problematic
behavior than any other genre of game played. The researchers concluded that since children with
little to no ASD characteristic, soon developed hostile and Autistic tendencies after a two to three
hour daily gaming sessions. Children in the specific range of 8 to 12 ASD tend to engage in
restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs), they might be at higher risk for developing addictive
game play patterns. Furthermore, preoccupation with Fortnite, and trouble disengaging from it may
serve as precursors for disruptive behavior.

Mazurek, M.O. & Engelhardt, C.R. (2012). Fortnite and problem behaviors in boys with autism
spectrum disorders. Research in Autism SpectrumDisorders, 7(2013), 316-324.