Recent study reveals 96 percent of gamers faced cyberbullying including se*ual harassments in last 12 months

A recent study has highlighted the pervasive issue of cyberbullying within the professional video gaming community. It has been revealed that almost 96 per cent of gamers have experienced such behaviour in the past year.

Published in the journal Entertainment Computing, the study underscores the heightened vulnerability of female gamers to both cyberbullying and sexual harassment. It’s worth noting that almost 16 per cent of esports competitors and content creators are females and this is rising exponentially.  

In the report, Louise Trudgett-Klose, a psychology PhD candidate at the University of South Australia (UniSA), noted a clear correlation between the level of professional gaming and the incidence of these hostile behaviours. "The more professional a player becomes, the more they are exposed to hostile behaviour, which affects their mental health," she explained.

145 players from 14 countries surveyed!

The study surveyed 145 video game players from 14 countries, revealing that about 49 per cent of the bullying incidents originated from fellow players, while the remaining incidents were perpetrated by the public.

Cyberbullying tactics have been identified in the study including name-calling, derogatory comments, exclusion, verbal threats, and manipulative behaviours. Sexual harassment reported by participants involved receiving explicit messages and images, as well as unwanted sexual comments.

Read More: Explained: How Esports can help you to improve mental health?

The researchers emphasized the prevalence of toxic behaviours in the gaming community, noting that the near-universal experience of cyberbullying among players indicates a significant issue. Dr. Sarven McLinton of UniSA stressed the need for new strategies to support emerging professionals in this evolving field.

"We need to explore new avenues to protect their mental health and create a safer virtual environment for everyone," he urged. Notably, this study sheds light on the urgent need for better protective measures and support systems within the gaming industry to safeguard the well-being of professional players among esports communities.