Shell called out for promoting fossil fuels to youth via Fortnite game

stopthatgirl7@kbin.social to Games@sh.itjust.works – 176 points –
theguardian.com

Climate activists condemn oil giant for paying influencers to showcase marketing game from new gasoline campaign

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Feels like Epic should shoulder some of the blame here as well, considering they allowed the fossil fuel company in the game at all. Fuck both of these companies.

Epic is just full of bad decisions, they just had to find one that isn't a money pit like their store or bought exclusives.

If only they just focused on Unreal Engine, because Unreal does go hard.

Especially now that trust in Unity is FUBAR

Do most of these kids parents not go to the gas station 1-2 times a week? Last I checked the pumps are always still loaded with people. I highly doubt a fucking shell sweepstakes in Fortnite is causing harm.

Do we really need to explain why an oil company trying to cozy up to the younger generation is a bad thing? Really…?

No but thinking this is somehow indoctrinating kids is hilarious.

Then why do you think Shell prompted these streams?

So they'd tell their parents to fill up at Shell instead of Chevron or whatever. It's not like kids are going to want more fossil fuels, they'll just want to shop at the cool brand instead of the less cool brand.

Then describe the innocent reason for adding a gas company in a video game? Like it doesn't fit in universe at all, but arguably does have an indoctrining effect

Lots of them plug in at home and never have to go to a shitty, ad filled, long as line, price gauged pump again 😎

I’m one of those people, but sitting here acting like the majority of the country is doing that just shows that people are living in a bubble.

Yeah, I'm a parent and I take my kids with me to the gas pump quite often. We shop at Costco and fill up before or after. I honestly don't see an issue at all, my kids know gas pollutes (I tell them frequently even though they're in elementary school), and they know why I continue to buy gas (EVs are too expensive, inconvenient for longer trips, and have a fire hazard).

So no, I don't have a problem with fossil fuels being a thing in games. I do have a problem with advertisements in games generally, and ads marketed to kids specifically. So if this was an ad for a socially acceptable business (take your pick), I'd still be opposed. Keep that nonsense away from my kids.

I'm so thankful pumps don't play ads where I'm from.

1-2 times a week? Are these people just doing fucking burnouts in a 1970 truck or something every day?

For a second there I felt called out, but my gas guzzling burnout truck is from the 90s 👍

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