Discrimination and hate speech in online video games. Educational challenges to promote equality on digital platforms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7179/PSRI_2025.47.06Keywords:
Video games, hate speech, discrimination, educational challenges, online violence, sustainable developmentAbstract
Introduction: The article analyzes the presence of discrimination and hate speech in online video games, focusing on the educational challenges involved and that are framed in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Materials and methods: The descriptive study, based on the 32 BITS project in Castilla-La Mancha, has used a quantitative survey methodology, for which a final valid sample of N=1049 from the 5 provinces of the region was collected. All the people participating in the study were between 16 and 29 years old. Results: It is observed that women and other vulnerable groups suffer aggressions on these platforms, which limits their participation and contributes to inequality. The results show that exposure to offensive messages varies by gender: men reported more observations of toxic messages, while women tend to receive less, although they continue to be victims of discrimination and violence. In terms of perceived attacks, the most affected groups include racialized people, foreigners, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. There is also a high incidence of attacks on feminists and people of progressive ideologies. Discussion: The research highlights how virtual spaces, while encouraging collaboration and entertainment, can also become environments of gender-based violence, harassment, and hate speech. This shows the need for inclusive educational interventions and the promotion of education for peace, implementing effective prevention measures and developing equitable digital environments, aligned with the SDGs, that mitigate discrimination and violence in these areas.
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