Online Harassment in Gaming: Research Finds Abundance of Aggressive Language Use among Players - Online Harassment in Gaming: Research Reveals Aggressive Interpersonal Connections among Players
In a recent survey conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation, it has been revealed that bullying and harassment, including offensive language and discrimination, are rampant in gaming communities.
The study, which involved 6,435 internet users aged 16 to 89, found that over 75% of gamers, including children, have witnessed such harassment in gaming environments. This harassment often includes toxic behavior and offensive language rooted in discrimination.
Female gamers are disproportionately subject to gender-based harassment, particularly in voice chat or competitive settings where toxicity is intense. The Gamergate controversy, a significant example of misogynistic harassment campaigns in gaming, underscores this issue, with women targeted online suffering from ongoing abuse and mental health impacts such as PTSD.
Intense gamers and competitive multiplayer environments experience elevated levels of these behaviors. The gaming community's increasing diversity has not eliminated such problems; gender-based discrimination and hate speech remain critical challenges, often facilitated or poorly moderated on platforms.
Homophobia and anti-feminism were also relatively widespread among intensive gamers. Among all players surveyed, 26% agreed that Jews have too much influence in the world.
However, Joachim Rother, a Bertelsmann expert, states that gaming communities are important channels for political opinion formation and learning democratic rules of the game.
The Gamescom, the world's largest trade fair for video and computer games, is set to take place in Cologne from Wednesday to Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of gaming fans are expected, with a kick-off event scheduled for Tuesday evening and the fair opening to visitors on Wednesday morning.
Among gaming enthusiasts, 58% are moderately or severely lonely, compared to 43% of all respondents. Gaming enthusiasts are also more likely to participate in political debates or express political interest than the average respondent.
Interestingly, about two-thirds of the respondents said they play games. Among gaming enthusiasts who play multiple times a week, 38% reported being often or rather often insulted while gaming. Among all players surveyed, 14% were often or rather often insulted.
In a positive note, the study showed that 27% of gaming enthusiasts said they had attended a demonstration in the past 12 months, compared to 14% in the general population.
This evidence underscores the widespread and systemic nature of bullying, offensive language, and discrimination in gaming communities, especially where intense and competitive play occurs. The study serves as a call to action for gaming platforms and communities to address these issues and foster a safer and more inclusive environment for all gamers.
- Community policy reforms, including stricter regulations against bullying, harassment, and hate speech, are essential in the gaming industry, given that 38% of gaming enthusiasts who play multiple times a week reported being often or rather often insulted while gaming.
- Employment policies within gaming companies should prioritize creating an inclusive workplace culture, as female gamers and those identifying as LGBTQ+ often face disproportionate levels of harassment, with 27% of gaming enthusiasts stating they had attended a demonstration in the past 12 months, pointing towards a need for change.
