As the world of massively multiplayer online games continues to expand, so does the unfortunate prevalence of bullying and harassment within these virtual realms. Combating antisocial behavior is not only crucial for the well-being of your users but also vital for the success and reputation of your gaming platform. While online bullying isn’t a new phenomenon, the digital environment has provided fertile ground for a wide range of harmful activities, often unseen in our everyday lives. In this blog post, we will delve into the alarming statistics surrounding cyberbullying and harassment in online gaming and explore the importance of proactive measures in creating a safe and enjoyable gaming experience.
The Escalating Problem of Online Harassment:
Recent polls indicate that online harassment is a significant problem affecting the gaming community. An astonishing 86% of US gamers have reported encountering harassment while playing online, with 77% experiencing severe cases of bullying. What’s more concerning is that the issue is on the rise, with 12% more gamers reporting online harassment compared to 2019, and certain forms of harassment even seeing a staggering 100% increase.
The Cost of Online Trolls:
While some may argue that the perception of bullying can be subjective, the reality is that more than half of those surveyed have faced physical threats, which is deeply unsettling. Shockingly, forms of harassment have spilled over from the virtual world into the physical realm. Over 16% of gamers have fallen victim to doxing, while 12% have been subjected to swatting, where a bully makes false emergency calls to direct a police response to an innocent player’s address. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need to address and eliminate toxic behavior within gaming environments.
The Ripple Effect of Bullying:
Policing online gaming environments can be challenging, but it is imperative to view it as an integral part of providing the best possible user experience and safeguarding your brand reputation. Allowing antisocial behavior to go unchecked not only poses a moral dilemma but also carries financial risks. Users who face repeated bullying are likely to leave your platform, taking their spending power elsewhere. A recent survey revealed that a staggering 70% of gamers have considered quitting online gaming environments due to negative experiences. This exodus can lead to a downward spiral, reducing traffic on your platform and attracting more bad actors. As law-abiding players depart, your platform becomes less appealing to legitimate users, who are vital contributors to your revenue streams through in-game spending.
Putting an End to Harassment:
The first step in combating bullying is to suspend or, in severe cases, ban players who engage in such behavior. However, it is crucial to ensure that malicious actors cannot simply create new accounts with different basic information to continue their harmful actions and antagonize legitimate users. An effective solution involves leveraging multiple technologies to make circumventing suspensions or bans as difficult as possible, thereby significantly reducing bullies’ motivation. For instance, FACEKI’s advanced identity verification (IDV) technology offers a comprehensive solution, combining proprietary device and network fingerprinting with sophisticated cross-linking capabilities to create a powerful deterrent against harassment.
Partnering with FACEKI:
By partnering with FACEKI, you gain access to cutting-edge IDV technology with minimal setup lead times, all at a fraction of the cost of building an in-house solution. Protect your gaming community and minimize the financial risks associated with identity-related issues by implementing robust measures to combat online bullying. To learn more about how FACEKI can help your business create a safe and inclusive gaming environment, we invite you to read more about it here.
Online bullying and harassment pose serious threats to the gaming community, jeopardizing user experiences and platform success. Taking a proactive stance against such behavior is essential for fostering a safe and enjoyable gaming environment. By leveraging advanced technologies like FACEKI’s IDV solutions, gaming platforms can effectively deter and address bullying, ensuring the retention of loyal users and safeguarding brand reputation. Let us work together to give in-game bullying the red card and create a gaming community that thrives on respect, inclusivity, and fair play.
To learn more about how Faceki’s identity verification solutions, click here.
