Thanks to the advent of broadband internet connections and explodes in the video game sector, millions of users can play and interact with each other on many platforms, free or paid. As a result, communities have seen the day everyone can share on their video game experiences, make an opinion on a game or, quite simply, talk about topical subjects. This formidable concept can be akin to Video game socialization. Being able to meet with a person who lives on the other side of the world can represent a chance to learn more about a culture, on a lifestyle and even, why not, to perfect his skills in a language foreign. According to Andrew Rollings, Game-Designer and specialist in online games In general, this connectivity favors the relationship between players rather than the game itself. Thus, it is very easy to create your own social group and thus establish a friendly relationship with its interlocutors.
Online and streaming games: parallel social networks
On the other hand and more recently, live broadcasting sites or sites de streaming, are so successful that they alone represent more than 50% of the global bandwidth. There is no doubt that for years, this broadcasting system has largely taken precedence over the traditional television network. These sites that you all know well (unless you have lived in a mountain refuge without electricity for 50 years!) Like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook And many others are an integral part of our daily life. Here, everyone is free to look at what they want, at any time, on any connected device. The new media stars are no longer the cloths of the 80s, but streamers, bloggers or vlogers whose communities bring together millions of people.
To avoid being banned from these streaming platforms, the latter generally use moderators, who are there to ensure the good behavior of followers. But on the servers of certain video games, the discussions are not or very little controlled by these same regulators, which unfortunately reveals comments of an insulting nature.
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Online racism and harassment: a phenomenon that tends to become commonplace
In real social relationships, each human being is free to give their point of view on any subject or deliberately do it. It will depend on the personality, character or mood of each. Everyone has their own convictions, but asserting them in front of their interlocutors, will be able to lead you to be categorized for good or bad.
In virtual interactions as in online games for example, everyone is also free to express themselves. But all the persons concerned do so under cover of quasi-anonymat because, out of respect for privacy, the majority of personal data cannot be disclosed publicly.
And this is where the rub, because many feel more courageous behind their screens than in a real situation. Knowing that they are unlikely to be prosecuted, they display disrespectful behaviors that they may not be able to assume in real life.
A recent study conducted by the company Preply shows us that out of a panel of 1,400 players, 90% say they have been victims of insults, stalking (abusive harassment) or racism. In the viewfinder, MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role -playing games) and FPS (first -person shooting game). In these games which require precision and speed, certain actions can bring you yourself or your group to lose a part in fraction of second, which can cause offset reactions from uninspired players.
In the world of online poker Also, some cases have shocked the community. In 2015, Philippe Ktorza, connected poker player, suffered racist remarks from his opponent's dealing with him “Dirty Jew”. The latter did not fail to take a screenshot and broadcast it widely in social networks, which aroused the stir in all the games of chance.
Hoping that these proven facts can cause a reaction to video game publishers, as the consequences can be serious. This sector which generates billions of euros must be able to protect the privacy of its customers thanks to more present moderators and to a strict application of the law. À)
As a reminder, the penalties incurred for insults or defamations of a racist nature can go 45,000 euros fine to one year imprisonment. And since all human miseries find their source in those made to animals, we hope that Specism will also be eradicated from the world of virtual game, as well as the real world.
