16%

31%

52%

I would know. It would be obvious if I was affected because it would be at the forefront of my mind all the time

I can’t be personally affected. Online abuse can’t negatively affect people in real life so it is nothing to worry about

Warning signs that you might be affected include: changes in routine such as avoiding interactions you used to enjoy, feeling increased levels of stress and anxiety, a change in eating habits, or a decline in your performance or skill level

Just ignore it. It can be upsetting at first but you’ll get used to it and those feelings will go away

Take some time away from the screen but there’s no point making a big deal out of it

Sexist abuse can be a very traumatic experience for the person targeted as well as those witnessing it and often requires professional help and support

16%

9%

27%

Providing tools and support resources for sexist abuse towards women is unfair to male gamers and could lead to reverse discrimination

There isn’t a need to provide any tools or support resources for women gamers because there is no real issue with sexism in gaming

Many games and platforms have reporting systems that allow players to report harassment, including sexist and racist abuse. Some also use moderators who can monitor in-game chat and interactions

1. Use overly aggressive language to combat sexist abuse and give as good as you get
2. Pretend to be a male gamer to avoid being targeted
3. Share personal information about yourself to make harassers feel more connected to you
4. Publicly post evidence of their hate speech and misogyny to ‘shame’ the harassers
5. Rally support from other gamers to humiliate the harasser and give them some of their own treatment

1. Use a real name to prove that you are not intimidated by threats and harassment
2. Share personal information such as your location or place of work to prove that they are ‘all talk’ and not worth worrying about
3. Challenge and engage with with every single harasser to prove that they cannot silence you regardless of how many there are
4. Avoid reporting sexist abuse to the platform because it is snitching
5. Keep quiet and avoid telling anybody about the sexist abuse you have received until the problem goes away on its own

1. Consider adjusting safety and privacy settings to control who can interact with you and your profile such as friends only or those you follow
2. Don't engage with toxic or abusive players and consider using block or mute features to avoid further interactions with them
3. Report any instances of sexist abuse directly to the platform where it has taken place and save evidence such as screenshots or recordings
4. Certain types of hate speech can constitute a criminal offence. Consider reporting the incident to the police if you feel any laws have been broken under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 or the Communications Act 2003
5. Reach out for professional help and support if you feel threatened or at risk in any way. Cybersmile can help with most non-crisis forms of abuse

Look into the harasser’s personal lives and start sharing any private information you fine online such as where they work or where they live to teach them a lesson

Challenge the person doing the abusing and call them out publicly to embarrass them in the hope of escalation of conflict so they get harassed themselves

Report the person or account to the game or platform, record evidence and block them. If you think there is a credible risk to your own, or someone else’s safety or wellbeing, call local emergency services for help

Game developers and platforms should not intervene as it can conflict with the freedom of speech of its users and community

It is not possible for game developers and platforms to do any more to address sexist abuse in their communities - it has been a focus for too long and everything that can be done has been done

Game developers and platforms can improve their reporting systems by providing clearer guides and more transparent processes for reporting abusive behaviours, pro-actively enforcing penalties, and providing direct access to support for those affected

15%

21%

31%