With the number of players Fortnite has and its social impact, its use as a social network could rival giants like Facebook when it comes to attracting the youngest. A large number of users spend many hours playing and interacting with friends and strangers.
A social network doesn't have to be limited to just sending messages, photos and statuses. As long as it allows several people to communicate with a common tool, it can be considered a "social network" and Fortnite is already one for practical purposes.
Millions of users in Fortnite make it a very profitable social network
The latest data say that the battle royale has more than two hundred million users and a quarter would be women, who spend between six and ten hours a week playing. That makes Fortnite a more used social network than Facebook and one that appeals to younger demographics that mainstream networks don't attract. And microtransactions generate $ XNUMX a year on average per user, more than the revenue per user of Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat combined.
A Hootsite analysis notes that Fortnite functions as a social network by fostering casual communication among acquaintances and friends through voice chat, which isn't just used for discussing game strategies. They also emphasize the importance of spectator mode and Twitch streams. Its more focused and controlled gameplay and communication system generally prevents arguments about political topics, and team cooperation helps strengthen relationships between users.
The study also notes that having so many high-level and low-level users together fosters a sense of exclusivity among the best players, while also motivating them to help others in squad mode. In theory, everything the study mentions is positive, although it's important to remember the recent cases of Fortnite bullying targeting users without paid skins, which leaves them more vulnerable. As with social media, everything depends on the users, how they use it, and their behavior. But it's clear that young people are increasingly using Fortnite to connect with others instead of traditional social networks like Facebook, and this represents a significant market niche to explore.
Source; Press release
