This article was produced as part of JTA's Teen Journalism Fellowship. The program works with Jewish teens around the world to report on issues that affect their lives.
(JTA) — “Jewish scumbag” “Behead the Jewish baby :)” “Zionist murderer”.
These are some of the usernames my 10-year-old cousin, Bailey Taylor, sees when she opens the popular video game Slither.io. I've also seen usernames attacking people of color and other minorities in games.
Slither.io is a multiplayer video game with a simple concept. Each player controls a snake-like icon and tries to kill competing snakes while making their own snake grow longer than other players by “eating” glowing dots.it has been Downloaded over 500 million times up to now. Many of the users are children, We recommend Slither.io Intended for users 10 years and older.
“I play a lot of video games, and the fact that people are writing these things and not understanding or caring how it affects Jewish people makes me angry. It's terrible,” Bailey said from his home in Southern California. “These words touch my heart.” (Her aunt asked JTA to identify her daughter by her middle name because she did not want to reveal her Jewish identity publicly.) , because she feared for her daughter's safety due to her Jewishness. Anti-Semitism on the rise since October 7th. )
Bailey is not alone: According to a 2022 study by the Anti-Defamation League. 1 in 10 teenage gamers I was exposed to hate speech online. “Hate and extremism in online gaming has worsened since last year,” the ADL reported, recommending the industry put in place more safeguards and reporting systems.
This past December, my cousins and I started playing Slither.io over FaceTime, and it became our new nightly routine. One night, Bailey was looking through a list of player usernames. “James, you should see this,” she said worriedly. I was alarmed by the amount of anti-Semitic language in the game and began investigating the issue by taking screen captures of the offending usernames.
According to , there are no restrictions on the usernames players can enter, and players are taking advantage of this. common sense media, Nonprofit organization that monitors online gaming. Hate speech in gaming usernames is rampant due to a lack of oversight of usernames. For now, the only recourse for Slither.io users who witness hate speech is to uninstall the app.
Despite my multiple attempts, Slither.io did not respond to comments for this article.
Created by 1 user in 2021 petition — written by the game's creator Steven Howse — to “save” Slither.io. He cited racist, sexually profane, and bullying language in the game as one of the main issues that needs to be addressed. “I am an avid slither player,” the petition reads. “I speak on behalf of the worldwide community of Slithers who love the games you create. [This] This game is loved by kids and adults alike, but it doesn't have the ability to send spam. [inappropriate] The messages directly harm people of all ages and are considered cyberbullying. ”
The petition gathered 117 signatures, but nothing changed.
Bailey's sixth-grade brother Sam (whose parents also requested that his real name not be used for this article) said he felt “unappreciated and unwelcome” on Slither.io. I am. Those who choose to express themselves with these slurs “don't have a good mindset,” he says. “They should be ashamed of themselves.”
During the pandemic, Sam and many other kids and teens became addicted to online gaming It was used as a way to socialize with friends, and the pastime was here to stay. But as hate speech and anti-Semitic sentiment increase; more widespreadSome parents worry that online gaming is no longer a safe way to connect with friends.
Justin Taylor, Sam and Bailey's mother, said: “As a parent, it's horrifying to see anti-Semitic usernames, especially in a game where the majority of players are likely to be children and young people.” “I'm lucky to have children who are proud of their Jewish identity. Not all children are confident in who they are, so this word helps children (My aunt is applying for a job at a gaming company and doesn't want her opinion to interfere with her job opportunities.) (We asked them to be identified by their middle name.)
Many experts acknowledge the harm caused by online abuse and the obstacles to doing something about it.
“To give permission [antisemitic] “This practice is harmful not only to the players of the game who feel targeted by the vilification, but also to anyone who hears about it,” Brian Greene, director of technology ethics at Santa Clara University, told me in an email. wrote. “Even those who use this language end up being harmed because they end up making themselves worse people and indifferent to the concerns of others (this also applies to game designers)” ).”
But from a constitutional perspective, the government can't ban gamers from using offensive language, said Eugene Volokh, a Los Angeles-based professor and First Amendment expert. Ta. “There is no 'hate speech' exception to the First Amendment,” Volokh said. “Whether a company chooses to ban anti-Semitic usernames at its own discretion rather than by law is a different question, and I will leave that to others.”
Philip M. Nichols, professor of law and business ethics at the Wharton School in Philadelphia, agrees that the onus is on private companies like Slither.io to shut down hate speech. “It’s important to understand that online gaming is not the government, so the vast First Amendment does not apply,” he said. “Rather, what is important is the responsibility of business operators to society.”
I was disappointed in this response, as Slither.io did not seem to make an effort to eliminate hate speech “in its sole discretion.” Was there really nothing to do?
Business ethics consultant Chuck Gallagher told me the problem is that Slither.io is not moderated. “There are no laws requiring moderation, and even if there were, someone would find a way around it. Therefore, offensive usernames, whether anti-Semitic, racially or otherwise offensive, are Well, unfortunately it's a reflection of society, or at least parts of society,'' Gallagher said.
“Slither is not alone. The chat/message/nickname features of many online games are filled with hate speech, especially when players are trying to outdo or outdo each other.” Gallagher he added.
On the Reddit forum regarding the Slither.io username issue. One player wrote:It's been like this ever since I first started playing in 2017. [the username issue] get annoyed. Unfortunately the best way I've found is to ignore them. But I wish name moderation could be better. ”
of Anti-Defamation League's research into hateful usernames in video games confirmed this. “Our findings show that many gaming companies are failing even the most basic moderation efforts by allowing usernames like 'HeilHitler.'” activities of daily living Reported in 2023.
I contacted the organization for more information. “Our research on hate and harassment in online games shows that young people who are exposed to or become the target of hate in these spaces feel uncomfortable or upset after playing, or feel uncomfortable with friends or family. “It has been shown that it can cause people to become less connected, treat people worse than they normally would, and even worse. As a result, it's even worse in school,” an ADL spokesperson said. said the person.
But at least one video game was able to use its platform to fight anti-Semitism. Fortnite made use of a virtual Holocaust Memorial Museum last year.if it's enough With all the attention being paid to this issue, perhaps Slither.io may feel obligated to find a solution.
“We're all trying to understand the nature and rules of the new online world,” Wharton's Nichols said. “It's hard to understand, but it doesn't excuse anti-Semitism or other forms of hatred.”
At the end of the day, if Slither.io has no intention of mitigating hate, individuals will have to use their own conscience. “Players need to consider how the username they choose will impact the players around them,” said Daniel Kelly, director of strategy and operations for the ADL Center for Technology and Society. “Behind every screen is a human being with feelings and experiences, and the choices people make in online spaces have real consequences offline.”
