Online Hate Speech in the Gaming Community: A Critical Discourse Analysis

This study investigated the linguistic strategies and discursive devices used in online hate speech within the gaming community. The present study aimed to deal with the following objectives: exploring how power dynamics and gender ideologies manifest in this discourse and examining the cognitive processes and mental representations that contribute to the production and reception of such communication. The research employed a qualitative design, utilizing multiple methods for critical discourse analysis, including Fairclough’s three-dimensional model, van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach, and Ideological Square. The data set for the analysis consists of 200 online texts and data sources, such as forum posts, comments, messages, gaming streams, videos, podcasts, and social media interactions, primarily from platforms like Reddit, 4chan, and Twitch. The analysis revealed a high prevalence of misogynistic language, including sexual objectification, insults, and threats, alongside significant amounts of racist, religious, homophobic, and ableist hate speech. Cognitive processes like stereotyping, prejudice, and emotional responses fuel the creation and reception of hateful messages. The findings underscore the urgent need for multifaceted interventions targeting individual perpetrators and systemic issues to create safer online spaces.