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Understand radicalization video games:
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15 million publications – Understand radicalization video games
With more than 3 billion players worldwide. Therefore, video games potentially exhibit millions of individuals to extremist content. Therefore, How does he present to them? However, How to make players more resilient in the face of radicalization? Therefore, This is what a team of researchers from the Royal United Services Institute. However, the most important reflection center on defense and security in the United Kingdom, attempted. Moreover, understand radicalization video games
The researchers conducted a survey by survey of 2. Consequently, 200 players from seven countries, including Canada, in addition to having analyzed more than 15 million publications on Steam, a platform frequented by players. For example, The results were published in a report1including a version translated into French has just been published.
Sexist. Furthermore, misogynist – Understand radicalization video games
First observation: extremist content – which researchers define as “the promotion of ideologies or practices that oppose democratic values, social inclusion and equal rights” – abounds in online play areas. In addition, A third of the players have reported a strong exhibition to images, videos or symbols corresponding to these criteria. In addition. Moreover, almost a quarter were in contact with content suggesting to reach extremist groups, young people being the most frequently targeted.
Through the publications analyzed, the report notes the prevalence of sexist and misogynist discourses. Women are also the group saying that they are most frequently the victim of harassment in the play areas.
The “dehumanization of difference” constitutes the background of all extremist ideologies. recalls Ghayda Hassan, co -story of the UNESCO chair in prevention of violent radicalization and extremism.
“It can take several forms. but the most common and historically the most prevalent form is the dehumanization of women,” explains the one who is also a professor in the Department of Psychology at UQAM.
The power of identification
To better understand the process of radicalization. the researchers focused on the formation of the identity of the players. And what they found may constitute an important key. The more understand radicalization video games an individual identified with his player identity. the more he was likely to be put in front of extremist ideologies in the play areas.
“As individuals integrate more into these communities. their personal identities tend to align themselves with group standards, making them more inclined to adopt extreme ideologies,” suppose researchers.
This dynamic is crucial to consider in prevention practices, believes Ghayda Hassan. “Young people who go online sometimes do it because they lack offline belonging space,” she explains. Yes, stakeholders must educate and educate players about radicalization. But they must also help them identify “the needs they seek to fill online”. “Can we diversify the sources that meet these needs?” “Suggestsme Hassan.
Coordinated attacks
Harassment campaigns, common on video game platforms, illustrate the role of identity in the understand radicalization video games radicalization process. Through coordinated attacks. players in the same community will regularly harass developers or other groups of players for exclusion and stigma.
A famous case is the sexist harassment campaign known as “Gamergate”. ten years ago, when women playing in the world of video games were threatened with rape and death.
The researchers also noted a summit of hate speech on the Steam platform in March 2024. in reaction to the efforts of a consulting firm to promote diversity and inclusion in video games. “For players deeply merged with their player identity. collective acts of hostility can be used to strengthen not only their feeling of belonging, but also a shared story that positions certain groups or individuals as threats to the community,” report researchers.
Related platforms
Minecraft, understand radicalization video games Fortnite, League of Legends… These names are probably familiar to you. But steam? Discord? Probably less. The world of video games is greater than it seems. In their study. the researchers paid particular attention to these related platforms which do not host games, but which offer discussion spaces for players.
They also believe that efforts to combat radicalization should not be limited to playing spaces. “The general public knows less the nature of these adjacent platforms. They are less likely to know what is going on, ”says Ghayda Hassan.
1. Consult the full report
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