The internet has changed the world for the good in so many ways, but it has also brought about new risks and dangers. Cyberbullying is one of the negative things to have emerged from the online universe, and it is becoming a more pertinent issue.
Cyberbullying has existed since the early days of internet chat rooms. Now, though, there are so many more avenues available to these nasty internet users. Online gamers have been found to experience more cyberbullying than others, so developers have a responsibility to make sure their games are policed well.
All Internet Users Need to Take Steps to Protect Themselves Online
In the early days of the internet, it was seen as a privilege to get access to this sprawling digital landscape. Now, it’s a right that many younger users take for granted. People can get online without a moment’s thought or hesitation, and it feels as natural as opening a book.
The problem with this is that many internet users go online without understanding that there are risks involved. Whenever people access the internet, they are effectively leaving their safe personal space and putting themselves out in the wide world.
Therefore, it is so important that younger generations are taught how to stay safe and private on social media. ExpressVPN has come up with some advice for internet users on how to do this, including using multiple accounts, limiting posts to close friends, and removing metadata from posts. Still, users are going to enter places on the internet where they have less control.
Gamers More Likely to be Bullied
Online games are places where players are likely to have little say over their privacy and who they interact with. According to research from Medium, cyberbullying is an issue that’s affecting gamers all over the world. 80 percent of multiplayer gamers face online harassment.
The popularity of online games is continuing to rise, with Cloudwards claiming that playing figures are now in the billions. Online play is here to stay, and the growing eSports industry is encouraging this form of gaming even more.
When entering an online game world, players often use headsets to communicate with other players. It is through this medium that toxicity is allowed to flourish.
Developers Need to Take Steps to Reduce Instances of Bullying
When logging on to games like Fortnite, gamers have little power over who they’ll end up playing with. Because players have anonymity and are unlikely to face repercussions, they feel like they have more freedom to say abusive and hurtful things to people.
Developers need to do what they can to monitor this issue. When players report people for malicious behavior, the game creators can introduce bans and timeouts. They should also use algorithms to pick up on common instances of cyberbullying. They can then deal with people proactively rather than retroactively.
There’s no doubt that the companies in charge of online spaces have a responsibility to prevent cyberbullying. It’s rife in gaming, and developers need to do everything they can to stamp it out.
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