LEVEL UP WITHOUT TEARING DOWN: TACKLING CYBERBULLYING IN ONLINE GAMING
Online gaming can be an exciting way to connect, compete, and collaborate with friends and new teammates from across the world. Whether you’re building empires in strategy games, scoring goals in virtual stadiums, or teaming up in fast-paced battles, gaming offers endless entertainment. But alongside all the fun, there’s a less talked-about side to the online world: cyberbullying.
Because most games allow players to interact through chat or voice, they also open the door to negative behaviour, like mean comments, name-calling, and even threats. While some of this might seem like just “part of the game,” it can quickly cross the line into cyberbullying, which can ruin the fun and seriously affect someone’s confidence or mental wellbeing.
But cyberbullying may not always be so obvious. Other negative behaviours include targeting someone repeatedly for their skill level, accent, gender, or background, or intentionally sabotaging a teammate’s game (also known as “griefing”). More serious actions include “doxxing”, which is sharing someone’s private information like their real name, address, or password without permission. Or someone might impersonate or hack another player to cause harm. Others might create hateful usernames, or exclude and gang up on certain players across matches.
If someone’s actions make you feel unsafe, upset, or uncomfortable, that’s a red flag. Whether it’s happening to you or someone else, it’s important to take action.
So, what should you do if you encounter bullying in-game?
1. Don’t engage. It’s easy to fire back when someone’s being cruel, but arguing often makes things worse. Take a deep breath or a screen break, and then, if you feel comfortable, calmly and firmly tell the other player to stop.
2. Mute, block, and report. Most gaming platforms allow you to silence or block abusive players. Use these tools! Screenshot and record the details of negative interactions as evidence. Reporting bad behaviour helps keep communities safer for everyone.
3. Talk about it. If someone’s actions make you feel upset, tell a trusted adult or friend. You can also use The Diana Award’s Advice Messenger for free support from a trained volunteer. Bullying is never something you should have to deal with alone.
Staying cool when the game gets heated
Even the calmest players can get frustrated during tough matches or unfair moments. But before you type that angry message or shout through your mic, remember: staying in control makes you a stronger player.
The Diana Award’s Keep Calm & Stay In Control resource is great for anyone in secondary school who wants to reflect on their tech use and explore ways to manage their emotions online. It’s also designed to help you run sessions with your peers, so you can help each other build healthier digital habits together.
Not sure if your gaming time is getting out of hand? The What To Do If You Are Worried About Screen Time guide offers helpful ways to notice when your tech use might be affecting your mood or sleep, and how to take breaks without missing out.
For younger gamers (ages 8–11), the Peer-to-Peer Online Safety Lesson teaches how to protect yourself online, understand age ratings, explore privacy settings, and find help when needed. It's a brilliant way to start important conversations with your friends about staying safe while having fun.
Ready, set, respect!
Online games should be fun, not frightening. By staying calm, being kind, and using tools and resources designed to support you, you can help make the gaming world a better place for everyone.
The Diana Award
