From Avoidance to Action: A Call for Open Dialogue on Hate, Harassment, and Extremism in the Gaming Industry

Abstract

Over the past few decades, digital games have become increasingly important for social connection and community building. However, the features that make games fantastic spaces for social connection also harbor toxicity, including hate, harassment, and the propagation of extremist ideologies. Despite the growing prevalence of these issues, there has been a lack of public-facing efforts from the gaming industry to address these concerns. One roadblock in particular has been the challenge of initiating open dialogue about these topics. In this study, we conducted focus groups with professionals across the game industry to facilitate discussions about the solutions and barriers they see in addressing the challenges associated with hate harassment and extremist ideologies in gaming spaces. Several barriers were identified, as well as actionable solutions for the industry's future.