By Dontae Campbell. Edited by Emma Stratton.
Multimedia journalism students at Tennessee Wesleyan University find that toxicity in online video games is causing a negative effect on players and their communication.
Online gaming is an outlet for communication between diverse communities and allows for unfiltered speech, diversity of thought, and a range of expression. This freedom of speech allows toxicity to build, which can have negative effects on players.
Toxicity is defined as something that is harmful or unpleasant in an insidious way.
To have unfiltered communication, online gaming companies introduced, in the late 1990s, the ability to communicate with teammates in-game with “Party chat” or “Proximity chat.”
In the article “Toxic Behaviors in Online Multiplayer Games” it states, “Research shows that anonymity contributes to an aggressive culture in online gaming” (Zsila 2).
For example, “a scenario in which a player tells a teammate in a multiplayer video game who is not playing well to “get the [expletive] out of here if you don’t know how to play!”
Toxicity in online video games common, with “43% [of players] reported being purely victims of other players’ toxicity, and a considerable proportion of individuals (66%) reported that they had personal involvement in toxic behaviors in the past year” (Zsila 2).
Individuals who are affected by the toxicity of online gaming often experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. As stated in the article “Toxic Behaviors in Online Multiplayer Games,” the growth of online gaming has spiked a rise in negative effects that decrease the psychological well-being of players (Zsila 1).
College students often experience stress and anxiety from busy schedules and use online games as an outlet for relaxation. However, the toxicity in online gaming can negatively impact the mental health of students.
In conclusion, the rise of online gaming also brought forth considerable negative effects for individuals and their respective communities. Online gaming, introducing the ability of anonymity, gave players freedom that negatively affects others.
It is important to involve yourself with supportive player communities, so you may benefit from your experience and not fall victim to the darker side of gaming.
Sources
Zsila, Ágnes, et al. “Toxic behaviors in online multiplayer games: Prevalence, perception, risk factors of victimization, and psychological consequences.” Aggressive Behavior, vol. 48, no. 3, 3 Feb. 2022, pp. 356–364, https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.22023.
Sherrick, Brett, et al. “How voice chat, cooperativeness, and competitiveness impact prosocial and antisocial norms in multiplayer online video games.” Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, vol. 70, no. 1, 22 Dec. 2025, pp. 38–54, https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2025.2603246.
Contributor: Ethan Kline