Gone are the days when video gaming was a nerds-only zone. Today, with the current parenting generation being the same Millennials who were raised with widespread access to gaming as youngsters, whole generations of families enjoy relaxing and having fun online in the gaming environment. However, as our lives turn ever more digital, so have some of society’s dark sides – including the phenomenon of online bullying or cyberbullying. There’s a feeling that the risk of nasty words and dogpiling is something we have to accept in gaming – but we don’t. Here are some things you can do to ensure a healthier, happier gaming environment and stay safe from cyberbullying.
Why We Game
Gaming is enjoyed today by people of all ages and demographics. In the US alone, it’s estimated that 65% of adults game, be it on a console, PC, Mac, or their mobile phone. The global video game market brings in about $269 billion a year.
Ang gaming, especially gaming within a community, brings many benefits to the table. Obviously, there is learning to play well in a team and thus communicate and negotiate with others. Gaming can also be a fantastic way to unwind and relax, allowing us to take out frustration and anxiety and socialize. For adults with a day job, making friends can be difficult, and the online arena offers a whole new space to meet up with people with shared interests and have fun together in a social environment. Even very simple games can be rewarding.
Additionally, gaming mechanics helps us develop our cognitive skills, problem-solving, strategizing, creativity, and motor skills.
When Bullies Go Online
However, human nature being what it is, online interaction is not without a dark side. Often justified as being linked to poor performance in the game, bullying in gaming doesn’t stop there. People can be targeted for things they can’t help, from their gender and race to background, command of a language, and sexual identity.
Sadly, the anonymous nature of online gaming does not help this. Hidden behind a username or created identity, it’s easy for people to feel empowered to do and say things they wouldn’t usually say in face-to-face interaction.
Additionally, trolls, or griefers as they tend to be known in gaming spaces, are difficult to control. If they face repercussions for their behavior, it’s easy to simply make a new alias and account and start it all over again.
Types Of Cyberbullying In Gaming
So, the most common type of cyberbullying we see is what’s come to be known as griefing – escalating “giving people a hard time” for whatever reason, or simply starting trouble for trouble’s sake and to get attention. While not all of this behavior is intended to bully, name-calling and harsh words can fast escalate from problematic social interaction and inappropriate anger into outright and extended bullying of the target.
However, when too many people decide a target has wronged them, it can lead to worse behavior than mere verbal abuse. Doxxing, or revealing a person’s real name, address, and other personal information is another type of cyberbullying seen in gaming.
While “phishing” and baiting are not unique to gaming, gaming communities like discord, forums, and others can also become a venue where cybercriminals bait others through links promising in-game goodies, grooming underage targets, and other predatory actions.
Pushing Back Against Gamer Cyberbullying
While it helps to understand why cyberbullying came into gaming and what it looks like, the real question is what can be done about it. It’s easy to start framing this negative online behavior as “just part of the game” and something you must accept. It’s “just a game” after all!
Instead, use the power of your “vote”. Choose gaming apps, social media, and communities that engage in halting these activities, especially if the community is popular among younger members. Not only are teens and children very vulnerable to bullying, but they’re also a demographic likely to generate bullying. Simply being an engaged adult willing to stand up for a better gaming experience can help shape your gaming experience.
Take responsibility for your online gaming actions. Don’t try to “pay to play” through the use of hacks and bots, both of which are common infection vectors for malware and malicious programs. Keep your accounts secure, and stay safe from cyberbullying through secure online practices. Set your security and privacy settings carefully.
Keep your personal life out of the game world, too. Even though online friendships are very genuine, you don’t want to share sensitive information online. And know what you’re doing online. Spend hours in the game world is easy, skipping responsibilities and letting your partner or family take up the load. Keep your temper under control, and ensure frustration at what is, in the end, a game isn’t leading you to your own bullying behaviors.
Actions To Take If You Are Bullied In A Game
Whether you are the victim, or simply an observer, take action against bullying when you encounter it. Use blocking, defriending, and reporting tools in the game or on the platform, and never join in these activities from peer pressure – speak up. Maybe get a well established industry standard VPN if you’re worried about anyone taking the bullying offline. If needed, speak to friends about what is happening, and monitor yourself, so you know when to take a break from the screen.
As an aggressor or victim, it’s easy to experience cyberbullying online, especially in the gaming world. However, by taking practical steps to keep yourself, your mobile or PC, and your sensitive information secure, and by taking action against online bullying, you can make a difference in the gaming world.
Online gaming is a great way to release stress, have fun, and get to know new people. It is essential, however, to avoid being pressured into poor behavior or allowing your temper to overtake you. If you are practicing great online digital safety, you can avoid greater risks like malicious software and doxxing, too. Gaming should be a fun and supportive space, not one rife with fear and aggression.
