Majority of Gamers Exposed to Extremist Views Online

A recent study by the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights found that 51% of gamers have been exposed to extremist ideologies while gaming online. The survey, which collected data from 1,128 respondents across the US, Germany, South Korea, France, and the UK, highlights the prevalence of extremist views in online gaming communities. Notably, 36% of respondents reported experiencing online harassment within the past year. According to the report's author, Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat, 'extremist actors are leveraging online gaming platforms to spread radical ideologies, foster hostile environments, and recruit vulnerable users.' This report follows concerns raised by the US Congress regarding the gaming industry's response to online extremism. A previous report by the Anti-Defamation League also found a significant increase in identity-based harassment, with 86% of adults aged 18-45 experiencing harassment while playing online games in the six months prior.