Cyberbullying of children in online games: how to detect and combat it

The ESET company warns that the same features that make video games social and exciting can also expose players to cyberbullying, harassment and manipulation.

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“Cyberbullying in video games rarely begins with a dramatic incident. Most often, it is a repetitive behavior that, little by little, transforms a positive activity into a stressful experience,” comments Mario Micucci, researcher at ESET Latin America.

Along these lines, it raises four warning signs. First, the constant insults disguised as “video game culture”. That is, jokes and the exchange of insults. Although they may be common, when a child is repeatedly called a “rookie,” “useless,” or blamed for every defeat, it is no longer just simple teasing.

According to experts, it often mirrors traditional cyberbullying, which includes repeated put-downs, offensive nicknames and targeted verbal attacks. Over time, this can damage a child’s confidence and make them anxious when playing.

Another sign is the mood swings after playing. Emotional changes are usually the first visible sign that something is wrong during the game. Don’t ignore the warning signs and ask the child if everything is okay.

It also seeks to go beyond the video game. A common tactic of cyberbullies is asking the child to continue chatting on Discord, WhatsApp or another platform. Because when conversations are spread across multiple platforms, it becomes more difficult for tutors to monitor them,

Additionally, moderation and reporting tools may not be effective, and interaction may quickly move from gaming-related topics to personal topics. In more serious cases, this can be the first step towards grooming, harassment, or even child sexual abuse.

It should also be considered secrecy and evasion. If a child hides the screen when you enter the room, plays alone with headphones on, refuses to talk about the game, or becomes defensive, he or she may be experiencing negative interactions and not know how to handle them. The most important protective factor in this case is to build a relationship in which you feel safe and can ask for help.

Some tips:

Micucci points out that, to keep children protected, “the important thing is to teach them how to defend themselves, since the objective is not to control every minute of play, but to give them the tools and confidence necessary to play safely.”

These are some recommendations: make video games part of daily conversation, with questions like Who did you play with today? Did you enjoy the game? Did something annoying or unfair happen?

You can also set a simple privacy rule: never share your address, school, location, passwords or login details. They should also be very careful when sharing their real name, photos or videos. It is necessary to explain that most of the players are strangers, even if they seem friendly.

Encourage them to be in control: Teach them how to mute voice or text chat, block a player, and report abusive behavior. This way, you’ll know what steps to take if you experience unpleasant behavior from someone in a game.

Save evidence before blocking: If harassment occurs, encourage them to take screenshots or screen recordings and save chat history. In this way, the abusive player or players can be reported through the game’s functions.

Helping children find the right play environment: Playing with friends, siblings, or in moderate communities dramatically reduces risk. Encourage them to leave toxic groups; They don’t have to tolerate bad behavior to continue playing. A healthy gaming experience is not about avoiding online worlds, but about creating a safe circle within them.