By Kerry Gallagher
According to the Entertainment Software Association, 83% of Gen Alpha – Americans ages 5 to 12 – report gaming at least weekly. Gaming isn’t just for the young: The average age of the American gamer is 36 years old. Gaming culture is not fringe culture. It is mainstream and is having an impact on American society and American values. We need to pay attention to the conversations and norms that are part of online gaming.
Morielle Lotan, CEO of The ADIR Challenge Foundation, is working to combat hate and antisemitism in the chats and interactions that happen in online games. She explains that anonymous chat rooms embedded in games can subject gamers to harassment, extremist recruitment, and hate speech.
What is hate speech? According to ConnectSafely, “Hate speech is more than just harsh words. It can be any form of expression intended to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred against a group or class of people.” When hate speech happens while gaming, our kids need skills to navigate that experience.
Here are some recommendations for parents and educators:
- Become familiar with the language and vocabulary of gaming so you can have a conversation with your kids about their experiences when gaming.
- Understand that not gaming might not be an option. Games can be a positive place where socialization happens and friendships are nurtured.
- Routinely ask and show curiosity about their gaming. What are they playing? Who are they playing with? What do they think and talk about with other players?
- Teach kids about steps they can take if an uncomfortable situation occurs, including speaking up, using the reporting feature, or leaving the game.
- Encourage empathy in your children and remind them that, when engaging with others online, there is another person on the other side of the screen.
- Look for terms that might creep into your child’s vocabulary. Sometimes kids (and adults) use derogatory terms without realizing their impact. They may not mean to be hateful, but the words they use can still be hurtful, and they may be getting into bad habits.