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Remember Bully Hunters, the failed livestream event created to combat female harassment in gaming? Well, it looks like it’s not only women who get severe harassment in the online gaming world. Case in point, being in MW2 lobbies. Remember those?

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a study that shows that 65%, nearly two-thirds, of gamers who play online have experienced severe harassment while playing. This goes towards both men and women. 53 percent reported being harassed only because of their race, religion, ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

A worrying 29% of gamers have also been doxxed. Doxxing is the act of releasing one’s private information including phone number, social security number, address, license plates, credit cards, etc. This is also done without the consent of the victim.

The ADL’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt is quoted saying “Video games are an important and extremely popular form of entertainment. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults play games online, yet there are significant problems with hate, harassment, and discrimination. At ADL, we see online multiplayer games as social platforms, and we need to fight hate on these platforms with the same seriousness as traditional social media — and for us — that starts with quantifying the problem through studies like this”.

The study also found something disturbing. 23% of those surveyed claim they have been subject to extremist ideology being spewed. This includes but limited to white supremacy, statements in support of ISIS, Holocaust denial, and 9/11 conspiracy theories.

The survey was taken by 1,045 people, who identify themselves as LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim, African American, and Hispanic. The games found to have to most harassment are DOTA 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds (PUBG), Overwatch, and League of Legends.

What do you think of this survey? Could it be flawed? Can it be accurate? Let me know!

Twitter: @TBBEX_Real
Email: averyvianna@pixelbay.net