In the dynamic realm of online gaming, community management and trust and safety teams play pivotal roles in ensuring the well-being of digital communities. Faced with rapid development cycles and the challenge of managing large player-to-staff ratios, these teams often find themselves in reactive positions, grappling with the daunting task of enhancing the health of their communities. Time constraints, budget limitations, and other resource challenges can make it seem like a monumental effort to keep pace with player reports and automated tickets, let alone proactively develop strategies for the sustained well-being of these communities.
This workshop will equip participants with the historical context and contemporary insights necessary to stay abreast of the complex issues surrounding the most disruptive behaviors in games, such as hate, harassment, and extremism. Through guided activities, this workshop will help participants identify the unique needs and constraints of their communities, enabling them to craft strategies that not only enhance community health but also align with the core values of their respective studios.
Following participation in the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the current landscape of hate, harassment, and extremism within gaming spaces, including the prevalence of toxic gaming culture, poor history of moderation, and the role of humor, memes, and propaganda.
- Refute common myths about the value of community management and moderation.
- List pros and cons of automated tools and supports commonly used in moderation.
- Outline a basic strategy for improving community health consistent with community needs and studio values.
- Draft a proposal for improving community resilience in their communities in-line with studio values and resources.
The primary goal of this workshop is to identify the tools needed to address the current state of one’s community as well as actionable insights on how to proactively shape their future for the better. Let’s work together to foster resilient and inclusive gaming environments.
Audience: Members of community management and trust and safety teams, including team and/or studio leadership.
Time: 6 hours (delivered as one six-hour session or two three-hour sessions)
Format: Virtual or In-person
Number of participants: 5-25
For more information and to enroll in a workshop contact Dr. Elizabeth Kilmer.
For studios who participated in the industry focus groups with Take This in 2023 and schedule their workshop before April 30th for a date within 2024, this workshop will be delivered free of charge.
The development of this workshop is part of the Disrupting Video Games-Based Radicalization Through Cross-Sector Networks project, and was made possible by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS # EMW-2022-GR-00036).