In June 2024, our partners ECPAT International hosted a workshop that brought together child rights representatives, researchers and online gaming companies to discuss gender, safety and help-seeking behaviours in online environments. Participants explored challenges, identified gaps and proposed key actions aimed at ensuring gender-sensitive children’s safety in online gaming.
Attending the workshop in Brussels on behalf of Child Helpline International was Céline With Suhard from our Danish child helpline member, Børns Vilkår:
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I had the pleasure of attending a workshop hosted by ECPAT International on the topic of gender, safety and help-seeking in online gaming environments.
Participating was a variety of civil society organizations and research communities from around the world, all of whom shared their insights and knowledge on the subject.
As someone from a children helpline I found it particularly interesting to learn about the various initiatives aimed at better understanding and supporting children’s help-seeking behavior. It was fascinating to discover that children’s actions and ways of interacting in online gaming environments exhibit similarities across national borders, especially in relation to the differences in how different genders typically interact.
It became evident that the interactions of boys with online gaming platforms require more attention and better support. We had the opportunity to discuss these topics with representatives across the gaming sectors, which provided valuable insights into how we can better collaborate to enhance online safety in online gaming environments.
Returning home from the workshop, I am highly inspired and eager to continue working on how to better accommodate children seeking help and how to approach counselling conversations.
Thank you very much to ECPAT International for hosting the event!
Participants observed that children find a sense of community in online gaming, perceiving their online friendships as important as their offline ones. However, it was also acknowledged that online spaces can be a hub of toxic and abusive habits, and some children normalize these behaviours and do not view them as risky or damaging. It was agreed that online gaming platforms with robust community standards and preventive measures could effectively mitigate and reduce such negative behaviours. Research indicates that toxicity levels correlate with age: younger boys perceive online gaming as safer compared to older age groups. Both boys and girls less under 10 feel less safe as they transition to platforms used by adults, where the level of toxicity they can encounter while gaming online increases proportionally to the number of adult presences. A key highlight of the discussion is that children of diverse gender groups respond differently to the increased chance of having abusive interactions online.
Another key point discussed was how children – especially boys – use gaming communities to seek out help. Online spaces often make it easier for children to ask for support when they encounter problems. It is therefore incredibly important that online gaming platforms create a safe environment where boys in particular can feel comfortable sharing concerns, challenging rigid ideas and biases around masculinity.
The intersection of children’s age groups and gender identity in gaming environments underscores the need for nuanced research and tailored interventions. While girls’ experiences are relatively well-documented, gaps in understanding boys’ experiences persist, hindering comprehensive child protection data and tools development. Collaboration among stakeholders – civil society organizations, tech and online gaming companies, and researchers – is essential to inform safer product design and policies that reflect children’s diverse experiences.
In collaboration with its partners, ECPAT is committed to establishing a knowledge-sharing hub where sector leaders can collaborate to identify gaps, foster ongoing dialogue and develop effective solutions. This initiative is crucial for safeguarding and strengthening child safety on online gaming platforms, and Child Helpline International and our members are proud to be part of this collaboration. With its specific focus on gender, especially highlighting the unique needs of boys, this effort aims to ensure much-needed comprehensive protection for all children in digital spaces.