- Cyberbullying in games is a serious problem today.
- Gamers often face harassment due to the anonymous nature of most online experiences.
- Consulting an adult is the best way to deal with these instances; some players can even consider legal action.
Video games have joined the most popular entertainment mediums in the modern era. Thanks to the popularity of free-to-play titles, affordable consoles, and mobile gaming, this medium has become accessible to practically everyone today.
However, this also means that the negative elements of the industry also show up much more frequently in today’s world. Among others, cyberbullying is a major one, since the anonymity of the digital world has made it easier for bullies to harass others online.
Fortunately, there are a few ways players can deal with bullying and enjoy harassment-free time playing games.
Why it matters: Online communities have grown to millions of players, so it can be difficult to track small instances of bullying, even if they leave a large impact on individual gamers.
Why Gamers Face Online Harassment
Simply put, the anonymity of the online world makes gamers an easy target for bullies. Players use discreet names and never truly reveal their identities, and although this measure serves to protect them, it also means that bullies use this anonymity to their advantage.
It’s common to see new players in multiplayer games being targeted. Initially, they may feel that this is part of the experience, but when others continue to insult them regardless of whether they feel offended or not, the scenario turns into a case of bullying.
Moreover, some players attempt to gain the trust of an individual at first. Once they gain access to personal information, like a real name and location, they may dox the individual by revealing their personal information with malicious intent.
Also, cybercriminals can target gamers on forums, posting malicious links disguised as helpful ones to install viruses or malware on gamers’ devices.
What To Do When Being Bullied Online
The best thing to do in the case of cyberbullying is to inform a trusted adult or guardian. Moreover, players should block the bully to prevent further harassment, but this should be done after ample evidence is collected regarding the act itself.
Still, criminals can slip through the cracks. There exist many instances of reported incidents of sexual abuse involving Roblox. Similarly, Discord has had more than a few instances of harassment, with several lawsuits also filed against the platform regarding this matter.
This means that legal action is sometimes necessary to put an end to bullying. When victims report the situation to the police, they even have the option to press charges or sue the culprit.
What Game Developers Need To Do
It is often believed that toxic players are impacting gaming as a whole, and this is where developers and communities come in.
Many games already enforce community guidelines, but content moderation could take things one step further. In this instance, monitoring chats and other interactions between players could prevent bullying.
Moreover, the emergence of AI could be used to gaming’s advantage, with algorithms taking on the role of monitoring interactions in real time. Game developers can even work with regulatory bodies for more effective moderation.
Ultimately, the threat of bullying is one that cannot be ignored. Where games are supposed to be enjoyable experiences, they can become a nightmare when bullying goes too far. Fortunately, reporting these instances to the authorities, taking legal action, or contacting the developers can be an effective way to curtail cyberbullying in games.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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