Bullying in Digital Games

Bullying is only one of the greatest problems of our time. It is a destructive issue that, while its impact varies from person to person, inevitably leaves lasting effects and causes trauma.

In daily life, the scale of bullying may not be immediately apparent in physical environments, but it holds a significant presence in online spaces. This is especially evident in games featuring voice or text chat functions. While parents may not fully realize it, online bullying knows no bounds. Although older players are often less affected by such behavior, it is entirely normal for children in middle school to be deeply impacted. Just as adult players wrongly target younger players with bullying, younger players also wrongly direct bullying toward adult players.

I am someone who enjoys spending time playing games in my daily life. I have encountered so many bullies and arrogant individuals that the only question that came to mind was: “Don’t any of them have parents who could raise them to be such disgusting people?” This is not merely a trivial argument—it is the reality we witness. It is shocking to observe a 12-year-old child hurling vulgar insults at a 25- to 30-year-old adult. The reverse is equally true.

In such circumstances, whom should we educate first: children or adults? Because this is not normal behavior. These individuals may commit in virtual environments what they would never dare do in real life. Failing to address this issue can extinguish people’s enthusiasm in many areas. A simple example is how individuals who enter games for enjoyment often become severely stressed due to exposure to such incidents.

How should we correct these individuals, and what measures should we take to prevent this? While inappropriate speech in games can be reported, this alone is insufficient. Bullies often face no consequences at all, or are merely temporarily banned from playing. There is no serious, effective measure against bullying. Perhaps this online bullying is not as impactful as real-life bullying, but it is still a warning sign. A sign of what? A sign that, because there are no repercussions for attacking those they believe they can dominate, these individuals may transfer such behavior into the physical world in other forms. And while doing so, these people derive pleasure from it. Destroying others’ lives brings them satisfaction. We must stop them.

Bullying can never be justified or explained—and it never should be. We cannot even estimate how many lives have been negatively affected since childhood, leaving individuals feeling worthless. Some have taken their own lives because they could no longer endure bullying; others have lost their sense of self. What, in your opinion, should be done to stop this?