It goes without saying that plenty of people in the gaming industry experience abuse, particularly on social media. Those who come into contact with large groups of fans and players, such as community managers and directors, often get the worst of it. Amid an ongoing discussion of online abuse and the possible solutions to it, some of those people are now offering up their own experiences and opinions.
One of those individuals is Corey Andress, Head of Global Community for Take-Two Interactive and 2K Games. A few days ago, he chose to share some stories from his own past, both at 2K and previously at Electronic Arts, to illustrate a wider point about the pitfalls of online anonymity and the limitations of community moderation.
Taking to Twitter and sharing a petition calling on the UK government to implement ID requirements for social media accounts, Andress stated, "I have long believed this needs to be a reality." The petition was created in response to the recent spate of racial abuse against English soccer players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka, but Andress felt it was needed to combat the broader spectrum of online abuse too.
"While it pales in comparison to what these players face, I know what it’s like to be abused via social media so my personal POV on this one is strong," he continued. He went on to list some of the things he's had to face in the course of his work with angry fans. "I've had people fly to my city or take pictures of my car with my license plate at malls... I’ve been hacked, vilified to the point of needing therapy and was offered bodyguards and protection as a cause."
Andress' experience is far from unique, as he readily admits, and it strongly colors his opinions on the merits (or lack thereof) of online anonymity. It's perhaps understandable for him to feel as though there isn't a less draconian, more community-driven solution to the problem, given the stories he was able to tell. Nevertheless, the question of requiring an ID for social media is far from clear-cut: while it could give abusive users less to hide behind, it would do the same for their victims, so many are in two minds over the matter.
Still, a solution will have to be found before long, one way or the other. With frustrations running high and games being delayed over the course of the pandemic, many developers like Sony Santa Monica's Alanah Pearce have been hit with abuse, insults, and worse from members of the community. As such, something will need to change before those who make and support games are hounded out of the industry altogether. As Andress put it: "For even the strongest of willed human, these things are scarring...When there’s no consequence, these actions multiply."