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A Devon school which has restricted dances made popular by a "violent and addictive" video game has backed the move despite a backlash on social media.

Dozens of parents in Ilfracombe have taken to Facebook to complain about what they saw as a "ridiculous ban" on the dance known as flossing.

It follows a message to parents from senior staff at Ilfracombe Junior School which said certain dance moves from the popular video game Fortnite had been used to "surround and intimidate" children in the playground.

On Thursday, head teacher Catherine Cox sent the following message to parents about the video game:

"We want our school to be one in which human beings treat each other with kindness and appreciation.

"Fortnite is for 12 years pluss. Fortnite is about mass killing of other human beings and being awarded by a dance of celebration if you are successful.

"One of these dances is called the Nazi dance!

She went on to claim: "Fortnite is affecting children's learning and behaviour. Fortnite is causing children to show obsessive and overactive behaviour.

"Fortnite is extremely addictive and playing violent games is associated with real life aggressive behaviour and mental health issues. Fortnite is a safeguarding concern and will be logged as such.

"This will be the same for children whose parents allow them to play games such as Grand Theft Auto, which is not only violent but treats other humans, especially females, with total disregard.

"Children in our school have been using these dances to surround and intimidate other children.

"Spend time with your children and enjoy their company - this is what matters most. Enjoy books together, cook together, shop together, build a den, camp out, go for a walk, explore the rock pools, draw, paint, talk, ask questions, find out about the world and learn new things."

What have parents been saying?

Several parents on social media reacted angrily.

Posting to the Facebook group Gossip Around Ilfracombe, one said: "My child is 8, she doesn't even know what the Fortnite game is!

"She just likes to dance! She's even taught me how to do it! She is actually quite worried.

"I find this absolutely ludicrous that my child now feels this way about a daft dance move.

"Children should not come home from school feeling like this. I'm flabbergasted."

Dozens of other parents commented on the feed.

One said: "Bullying is rife in all schools, blaming it on a game/dance/parents is just another poor excuse."

Another said: "If kids are using the dances to intimidate kids (sounds ridiculous to me) then banning the dance doesn’t help. They will use something else."

But not everyone agreed. One commentor said: "I had no idea it was connected to the game and kids are using it to bully other kids.

"I can see the schools point now. But they need to explain it to the kids too."

Another said: "I understand that yes it is just a dance. They must have a really good reason for installing the ban.

"Each child is different and reacts differently to certain situations. It’s a debate that certainly needs talking about and gaming addiction really needs to be addressed publicly."

What does the school say?

Jody Le Bredonchel, assistant head teacher at Ilfracombe Junior School, said: "We appreciate the opportunity to clarify some of the misunderstandings around our response to the Fortnite game.

"Firstly, it is a PEGI 12 rated game so it is considered to not be suitable for pupils of a Primary school age. Whilst some aspects of the game are harmless, the 'Battle Royale' element is thought to be inappropriate.

"There is also a chat feature which can not be disabled whereby children can be contacted online by strangers. Many schools are experiencing issues with the game and the NSPCC have released guidance to support parents.

"In our school, a few incidents have taken place at lunchtime whereby pupils have been upset by some unpleasant dances. Our main priority is the safeguarding and well being of the children and this caused us to speak with all the pupils and reinforce our expectations.

"The 'Floss Dance' has not been banned as such. We took the opportunity to explain that these dances were not appropriate during lessons and lining up time. We know of other schools that have taken a similar approach.

"We understand some parents have a different opinion and this has caused quite a reaction on social media.

"We have however had many positive comments from parents who have appreciated the guidance we have given and have said that it has helped them to reinforce their expectations at home in the face of quite a lot of peer pressure for children to play the game.

"Our intention has always been to keep the children safe and their well being is our main priority and we would urge any parents who have concerns to contact us directly."

poll loading Should 'flossing' be banned at all primary schools? 0+ VOTES SO FAR Yes, it's restricting the children learning No, it's a harmless dance and great physical exercise I don't think the dance should be banned - but children under 12 should not be playing the game

What is flossing - and what has it got to do with Fortnite?

Fortnite has owned 2018 up to this point. A game hasn't proved this popular since GTA V was released back in 2013.

Despite Fortnite's age 12 certificate it is proving a massive hit in primary schools, so much so that the various dance moves have found their way onto playgrounds.

During the game characters use dance moves to taunt an opponent or celebrate a victory - or just dance for the hell of it.

Of all the dance moves, the most one that has become most popular is 'Flossing'.

If you follow your internet trends you'll know that flossing isn't particularly new.

It's been popular on social media for a couple of years now, thanks in part to Backpack Kid.

Backpack kid gained notoriety after appearing in videos online of him dancing awkwardly to rap songs while wearing a backpack.

What has the NSPCC said about Fortnite?

Earlier this year, the charity issued advice to parents as it was concerned that children can be contacted by potentially dangerous strangers through the popular Fortnite: Battle Royale video game.

The NSPCC and O2 are offering parents the following advice:

Talk to your child regularly about what they are doing online and how to stay safe. Let them know they can come to you or another trusted adult if they’re feeling worried or upset by anything they have seen. You can use our conversation starters to support you when starting these conversations.

Explore your child’s online activities together. Understand why they like using certain apps, games or websites and make sure they know what they can do to keep themselves safe.

Agree your own rules as a family when using sites, apps and games. You can use our Family Agreement template to help you get started.

Manage your technology and use the privacy and parental control settings available to keep your child safe.

Laura Randall, NSPCC’s associate head of child safety online, said “Apps, sites, and games such as Fortnite: Battle Royale can be great opportunities for young people to play and engage online.

“However in light of emerging concerns about the risks children could be exposed to, we are urging parents to be aware of Fortnite’s features.

"It’s vital parents have regular conversations with their children about the games they are playing, and how to stay safe online.

“Anyone looking for further online safety advice can contact the O2 NSPCC online safety helpline on 0808 800 5002 or pop into an O2 store where an O2 Guru can help.”