Video games and the communities that surround them can be an excellent place to make friends, have fun, and gain insight into yourself and your identity. Additionally, these spaces often allow you to present yourself as you choose – by picking your username, avatar, and modes of communication. The choice and anonymity offered in these spaces can provide a sense of safety to many, but can also be exploited by those looking to cause harm while their identity is hidden behind a screen, and they remain free of real-world consequences. Digital game spaces are being exploited by extremists with aims to normalize their extreme views, radicalize players, and connect with other like-minded individuals.
Take This is currently working with its partners at Middlebury, and Logically AI to understand how we can cultivate safe and resilient gaming communities. The next step in this research is to better understand how players see themselves and identify connections between an individual’s identity and their connections to gamer culture and other social beliefs.
If you’re someone who plays games, is over the age of 18, resides in the US or UK, and you’d like to contribute to scientific research – you can complete our questionnaire now!
Here at Take This, we all care deeply about games and the gaming community broadly. You can check out some of our favorite games, and learn about the ways in which we’re helping to build healthy communities.