How to Report Gaming Trolls and Protect Kids Online
Online gaming has grown rapidly in popularity through the years, and with good reason. Computer games have always been an entertaining way to pass the time but new network capabilities have added a unique social element that attracts individuals of all ages, from all over the world. The gaming industry has ascended to the point where the best of the best are now able to make a full time living from streaming their gameplay.
Unfortunately, the online gaming world is not always a safe environment — particularly for children.
There have been many well-documented attacks by cybercriminals on gamers and streamers, whilst social features embedded in online games often provide an opportunity for predatory behaviour towards younger gamers.
Many gaming platforms do provide methods through which bullying and unpleasant behaviour can be reported and it is important that gamers of all ages are aware of who they can turn to for help and the steps that they can take to safeguard their online privacy.
Reporting trolls
PlayStation
Whilst there are many offline experiences for PlayStation fans to enjoy, the majority of current games also offer multiplayer options that require a PlayStation Network account.
PlayStation has a strict set of rules that are designed to protect all players on their platform. If you believe another player has violated these policies you can report them, which may result in them being banned from the PlayStation Network.
You can report an individual via two methods, through their account and in response to a direct message that they have sent.
Report an account:
1. Open a player’s profile.
2. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
3. Select ‘Report’
4. Choose ‘Something in Profile’.
5. Select the reason that you are reporting the player and submit the report to Sony.
Report a message:
1. From the Home screen, select ‘Messages’.
2. Find the conversation and select the specific message that you wish to report.
3. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
4. A menu will appear; click ‘Report’.
5. Select the reason that you are reporting the player and submit the report to Sony.
Xbox
In a similar manner to PlayStation, Xbox gamers are often able to choose between playing online or offline. Xbox aims to remove harmful content and behaviour that does not follow the Microsoft Services Agreement as quickly as possible.
Individuals are able to report another player’s behaviour or messages, depending on the issue at hand.
Report behaviour:
1. Press the Xbox button on your controller.
2. Go to ‘People’ and search the player’s hashtag to find the player.
3. From the player’s profile, select ‘Report or block’ and then select ‘Report’
4. Select the reason that you are reporting and add a comment should you wish to include
additional information.
5. Submit the report to Microsoft.
Report a message:
1. Press the Xbox button on your controller.
2. Go to ‘Parties & chats’ and then select ‘Chats’.
3. Select the gamerpic of the player you wish to report.
4. Choose ‘More’ and then select ‘Report’
5. Select the reason that you are reporting and add a comment should you wish to include
additional information.
6. Submit the report to Microsoft.
Steam
Steam is an online gaming platform designed for PC and laptop users. There are thousands of games available for players to enjoy and Steam encourages users to report any content that is in violation of their Rules and Guidelines and Online Conduct Agreement.
To report abusive behaviour, following these steps:
1. Find the user’s Steam Community Profile.
2. Select the large “More” button in the top right-hand corner of the page.
3. Select “Report Violation” from the dropdown menu.
4. Select the category of abuse and briefly define the interaction
Twitch
Twitch is an extremely popular platform via which gamers stream their gameplay content. Individuals are able to chat with fellow gamers and cultivate a community. Unfortunately, harassment often occurs on the site and Twitch provides the user with a number of tools and options to deal with online abuse.
Block a user:
Blocking a user removes them from your friends and followers list and prevents them from contacting you in any way.
1. Click on their username.
2. Click the three vertical dots.
3. Select ‘Block’.
You can always see a list of users that you have blocked by going to the ‘Privacy’ section of your Security Settings page.
Report a channel:
1. Click on the three vertical dots icon on the bottom right below the video player on the relevant item of media.
2. Click the ‘Report’ option which will open the ‘Report User’ form.
3. Select the reason you are reporting the channel and write a detailed description of what has occurred.
Report a user in the chat:
1. Click on the user’s name in the chat.
2. Click the icon and then the ‘Report’ option. A report form will open.
3. Select the reason you are reporting the channel and write a detailed description of what has occurred.
Cybersafety Tips for young gamers
It’s always a good idea for parents to supervise their children’s online activity, particularly when gaming or participating in any other type of activity where they are able to communicate with people that they don’t know.
Young gamers, always follow these cyber safety tips to ensure your online experience is both safe and
fun!
● Choose a username that does not reveal your real name.
● Create a good password for your account. Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters,
numbers and characters.
● Do not click links provided by strangers. They may be pretending to be your friend but
suspicious links can result in viruses and malware being installed onto your computer.
● If any behaviour or messages from other players makes you feel uncomfortable, tell a parent or
trusted adult immediately.
● Be sure not to provide any credit card information without your parent’s approval.
● Remember — gaming is meant to be fun! If you find yourself getting too competitive or
stressed, take a break and spend some time outside with friends.
Author Bio:
Bridget is a writer and editor, currently living in Melbourne. She is a
copywriter for Newpath Web and loves working with words of all shapes and
sizes. When not playing around with punctuation and grammar, she enjoys
travelling and curating her Spotify playlists.
