How often do you find yourself battling with your friends in an exciting multiplayer online gaming arena? Or perhaps trying to conquer Dr. Horrible in the newest PlayStation 4 game? Whatever the case may be, chances are that you’ve been online in the last few weeks, and quickly brushed past your friend’s Facebook post about his or her new loot. You could very well be in violation of cyberbullying law california – find out how, and what you should do about it.
Types of Games Impacted by California’s Cyberbullying Law While there’s no denying that most of the games available today incorporate some kind of social interaction, there are few that truly thrive on player interactivity. Players live for accomplishments, achievements, and victories over other players in multiplayer and massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG) games. If you play MMORPGs, such as World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 14, or even ESO (Elder Scrolls Online), you likely communicate with other players over voice chat (like Discord) or chat channels within the game itself.
How Are Social Interaction and California Cyberbullying Laws Related? A person engaging in a cyberbullying incident can be charged with a misdemeanor if there’s proof that he or she causes, or seriously threatens to cause, physical, emotional, or psychological harm to another person active in multiplayer or single-player games. In the past, cyberbullying is usually conducted through text, email, social media, or even phone calls. However, the Online Gaming Association (of which some MMORPGs are integral parts) has always maintained a high level of player interactivity, with chats and voice commands incorporated within the gameplay.
The Scope of the California Cyberbullying Law The cyberbullying law california is applicable to a broad range of incidents. Bullies take to online forums, chat rooms, and even online games to keep their victims on their toes at all times, and now, they may face jail time. Under this law, anyone can report a cyberbullying incident (which includes the exchange of messages between players that are threatening or harassing in nature), and the police may conduct an investigation.
No Free Speech Zones for Gamers As California has stepped up its bullying and harassment laws, free speech arguments are being quashed. In fact, even from a legal perspective, online gamers quickly dismiss free speech arguments. What the average player cares about most is that some jerk is ruining their favorite game by sending harassing or threatening messages. They want cyberbullies dealt with promptly, and stopped before they ruin an entire game.
Ignoring the Threat of Game Bullies Only Makes It Worse If you avoid playing online games because a bully might target you at any moment, you’re only depriving yourself of the fun, excitement, and accomplishments that multiplayer online gaming provides. Resorts to non-interactive gameplay deprive millions of players the chance to endlessly slay dragons, explore magical lands, and build friendships.
How to Prevent and Report Cyberbullying as a Gamer Even if you don’t play in a group, you can still engage in online gaming forums where other players congregate. That’s why you need to know what to do if you find one of your friends (or fury foes) is a bully. Keep these tips in mind: If you’re new to online gaming, stay away from anyone who seems overly aggressive. No one needs to bully you and ruin your enjoyment of gameplay. Also, remember that most MMORPGs and online games currently have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. However, if someone continues to bully or harass you, always take proper actions to report him or her.
Game Developers Take the Cyberbully Threat Very Seriously During the development of an MMORPG, developers consider the importance of player interaction in combat and exploration – and take steps to deal with any potential threats or illegal activity. That’s why there are rules, regulations, and guidelines to adhere to in all interactions: direct message or guild chat, until the police make an arrest. Yes, that’s right: an arrest. California’s cyberbullying law means that if police deem a person to be continually engaging in cyberbullying, they can face up to a year in jail and thousands of dollars in fines.
For more information on cyberbullying laws and their implications, you can visit StopBullying.gov.