A DESPERATE mum appeared on This Morning today seeking help for her sons who are “addicted” to playing Fortnite.
Lysa Martin, 45, from London, appeared on the ITV show along with her 16-year-old son Romario, who admits to playing the popular online game for up to ten hours a day.
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Mum-of-five Lysa explained to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that Romario and her ten-year-old son Reyon are rarely off their consoles.
Speaking on the show, she said: “(If it’s) a weekday we’re probably looking at a about five to six hours (gaming), after school, straight in, uniform not off, straight on the game.
“(When it’s the) weekend it’s ten hours plus.”
Asked why he enjoyed gaming, Romario said: “It’s the satisfaction really.”
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With the game being online, many of his co-players are in totally different time zones meaning that the teen can be up at all hours, admitting his eyes “are red and hurting.”
Holly was keen to find out why Lysa wasn’t stricter when it came to limiting gaming time.
The mum explained: “If it’s time for bed or time for dinner, it’s selective hearing, they don’t hear me. They can’t pause the game because it’s live.
“So then there’s temper tantrums, the screaming, the shouting, the door slamming. It brings out certain anger, and it’s like wow, a game can actually make you this upset.”
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And occasionally Romario’s temper tantrums turn to aggression.
Explaining his anger, he said: “It’s the fact that you come so close to winning a game and then stupid little mistakes happen.
“In the past, when I was very new, I punched a wall (which left) a hole.
“With GCSEs coming up, I have to be more serious, so I’m not on it as much now.”
And while Romario is trying to reduce his gaming time, his younger brother’s interest is far from waning as he’s “constantly” on his console.
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But while she admits her sons’ behaviour is frustrating, Lysa says she would rather have them at home.
The mum said: “As much as I moan about them being on the game, they’re in the comfort of their own home, I would rather them being at home playing the game rather than out on the street not knowing where they are.
“They still get to communicate with their friends; they still have a social life because they all meet up in a room (to play.)”
Joining them today was addiction specialist Dr Henerietta Bowden-Jones who founded the first NHS clinic dedicated to internet gaming addictions.
She admitted that of the 43 referrals she had, the majority had been teenage boys who had similar stories to Romario.
What is Fortnite?
Fortnite is an online video game set in a dystopian world based around a battle for survival.
Fortnite offers two distinct modes: player versus environment, ‘Save the World’ and the more recent player versus player game Battle Royale.
The game starts with 100 players leaping out of a plane on to a small island, fighting each other until no one is left.
Fortnite has proved a massive hit with millions of kids.
The game is free and kids can team up with a friend, a group of friends or compete as a duo or squad.
Matches can last up to 20 minutes.
Though it’s a multiplayer shooter, no graphic violence is depicted.
The now hugely popular game was revealed in 2011 but only released last year.
Since its release it’s been available to play on gaming platforms such as PlayStation 4, Xbox One, as well as PC and Mac.
At the beginning of March developers announced they would be rolling out a mobile-friendly version for iOS and Android phones
Speaking on the show she said: “Addiction is a very serious situation where an individual has lost control of their behaviour and is suffering extremely negative consequences.
“A lot of the population is gaming and when people say that all young people are addicted to gaming that’s certainly not the case.
“There are a very small percentage who are displaying what we can say, a loss of control, and negative consequences such as dropping grades at school, we see that a lot.
“They will absolutely focus on the game and no longer exhibit their competitiveness within an academic environment.
“Behavioural addictions can be treated very well, it’s talking therapy, we do not use medication.”
Dr Henrietta was quick to encourage Romario and his brother to make an appointment with her.
In more parenting news, a nursery posted a notice begging parents to get off their phones.
And we told you how to find out what makes your teenage sons tick from sex to body image.
Plus this chilling photo reveals why you should never leave your child’s bedroom door open at night.
