Cyberbullying via gaming has grown alongside online multiplayer games. Unlike social media bullying, it occurs in real time via voice chat — making it more intense and harder to document.
Harassment ranges from verbal abuse and slurs to coordinated campaigns where groups join to exclude or humiliate a specific child. Discord servers are frequently used to escalate abuse outside the game environment.
Because gaming is often seen as safe leisure, parents may not realise bullying is occurring until a child starts avoiding games they previously loved, or shows signs of distress after sessions.