Fortnite fan? Then you may be one of the 600,000 people who will receive a payment from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) following Epic Games’ investigation.

Back in 2022, the FTC announced that it had reached a settlement with Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, requiring the company to pay back $245 million to users. According to the organization, this was because Epic Games “used design tactics called dark patterns to trick players into making unwanted purchases.”

Now the first $72 million of that Fornite refund is being distributed to affected users – and the internet couldn’t be more excited.

The online reaction to the Fortnite refund is a prime example of cross-generational celebration and shows how social media can spread joy in difficult times.

Before we get there, however, let’s take a step back.

The story behind the Fortnite refund – and how the internet reacts

Fortnite is an extremely popular free online game. So popular that the title had 500 million registered users in March 2023. If we assume that the world population was just over 8 billion at the same time, that means about 6% of the world’s population signed up to play Fortnite.

Of course, this number isn’t entirely accurate since many people have multiple accounts, but the number at least shows the incredible scale of the game.

The Fortnite refund itself follows an FTC investigation into Epic Games, which found the company “tricked” users into making unwanted purchases.

According to the organization, this happened in a variety of ways, including through unwanted purchases or the ability for children to rack up unauthorized fees without parental permission.

One example the FTC cited was how players “could be incriminated while trying to wake the game from sleep mode while the game was in a loading screen, or by pressing an adjacent button while simply trying to to preview an item.”

The first $72 million of that refund will be paid out now, with the rest to follow in the future to give people more time to sign up for compensation.

However, the internet doesn’t seem to care where the money comes from. Instead, many people online are just overjoyed about the Fortnite refund:

Another similar post type that’s becoming increasingly popular focuses on the fact that it feels like a godsend:

Most intriguing, however, are the Fortnite refund posts that combine that feeling of excitement with appreciation.

Take this TikTok from user Jaked as an example:

The TikTok, which has been liked by nearly 220,000 people at the time of writing, highlights how this “Fortnite stimulus” has relieved him of anxiety – a point that has been repeated numerous times on social media.

That raises a question: Beyond the simple joy of receiving money, why have so many people posted online about the Fortnite refund and gotten involved?

The meaning behind the internet’s reaction to the Fortnite refund

First, Fortnite is a game with a young user base. According to statistics, 60% of players are between 18 and 24 years old.

Of particular interest is the fact that this age group has the highest unemployment rate in the United States. This was 9.7% in 2023, well above the 2.8% for people between the ages of 35 and 44.

When you consider that more than half of 18- to 24-year-olds still live at home, a clearer picture emerges. So we can assume that many in this particular Gen Z segment are struggling with money.

And let’s not forget that they are also an incredible online group and people of this generation living in the UK spend more than six hours a day on the internet.

This fits into the situation we’re seeing with Fortnite refunds. Many users are not only happy about this extra bit of money, but also feel the urge to communicate about it in a very typical Gen Z way: by posting online.

With Fortnite being one of the biggest games in the world and a cultural touchpoint, the refund is a moment that can be shared by many.

So social media acts as a connector, a way through which an online generation can share their excitement and relief at getting paid in a difficult financial climate. It’s as close to a communal moment for Generation Z as you can get, and it’s happening in real time

What we’re seeing with the Fortnite refund is an organic expression of joy that spreads across the internet – and there’s nothing better than that.