Addressing toxicity in online gaming sites
Author’s note: This column is a followup to last week’s Ask Mary Jo, where a father brought to my attention the toxic masculinity environment on some video gaming sites. After speaking with teens in our programs and at our Common Ground Teen Center, I concluded more research into the topic was needed. The teens I interviewed for last week’s column reinforced the disrespectful culture they encounter on gaming sites. As an educator, I realize no behavior happens in a vacuum. Trusted adults must first seek the “why” of behavior. What is driving young men/teens on video gaming sites to speak so harshly?
I first looked at Richard Reeves’ book, “Of Boys and Men.” Reeves explores the challenges facing men and boys in education, the workforce and family life. He argues that a job market shift, which now values cognitive skills over physical strength, has left some men feeling insecure and uncertain of their place in the world.
Mann (2023)* did a meta-analysis of the toxicity in gaming and discovered:
More people are playing video games online, increasing the possibility of someone being exposed to toxic behavior.
Hate on gaming sites includes antisocial behaviors like trolling and hate speech (racism, misogyny, radicalization).
Some players seem to accept this hate as part of gaming culture and do nothing.
The gaming industry is recognizing this problem slowly, but the issue is so widespread that it is not an easy fix.
A few challenges:
Gaming culture is traditionally homogenous (white, male, straight), so when someone different enters the site, animosity arises.
Exposure to hate online normalizes it.
Competition fosters hostility.
Social safeguards are removed online.
Actions can occur without repercussion.
The new Netflix show “Adolescence” is a four-part series exploring the aftermath of a death. The main character, 13-year-old Jamie Miller, is arrested for the murder of a girl from his school, Katie Leonard. Produced in Britain, the series looks at bullying via social media and incel subculture. Incel stands for “involuntary celibate” and is associated with a mostly online subculture where men who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner blame, objectify or denigrate women and girls as a result. The murdered girl in the series rejected Jamie and then used emojis on Instagram to accuse him of being an incel. Although fiction, child psychologists and educators are saying “Adolescence” is sounding an alarm about teen online behavior.
Realizing a problem exists is only the first step to correcting it. I’m interested in educating both parents/concerned adults and young people. I propose a workshop on the topic of toxic masculinity online. Teen Outreach already offers a program to schools called Respect Online; we also teach it one-on-one. I’m hoping to expand Respect Online to include gaming culture. If anyone is interested in this workshop, please contact me via email.
Have a question? Send it to Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski’s email podmj@healthyteens.com.
* Mann, L. (2023). Toxic play: Examining the issue of hate within gaming. First Monday, (28), 9.
Reeves, R.V. (2022). Of boys and men: Why the modern man is struggling, why it matters, and what to do about it. Washington DC. Brookings Institution Press.