An Adelaide teenager has launched an online support group for victims of bullying in video games, describing the environment as a 'bullying hellhole'. The 15-year-old, identified only as Cody for privacy reasons, says he has witnessed players being told to kill themselves or 'jump off a bridge'.
Cody told 7NEWS.com.au that he has encountered hundreds of players subjected to severe verbal abuse. 'Some feel like bullying will never end — it's an endless loop they can't escape,' he said. The teen started the support group after seeing players spiral into despair.
Cody has approached Fortnite developer Epic Games directly, urging the company to remove serial abusers from its platform. He said there has been little to no response. Epic Games, which has more than 4000 staff and over 400 million registered Fortnite players, stated it has clear community rules prohibiting bullying and enforces bans up to permanent removal.
Gaming platforms are exempt from Australia's forthcoming social media ban for under-16s, raising concerns among experts. RMIT Associate Professor Lauren Gurrieri noted that gaming influencers hold 'immense cultural authority' and can reinforce harmful gender norms. Research indicates one in five teen gamers have witnessed hate speech, and over one in 10 have heard misogynistic ideas.
Roblox, with 380 million global users, has pledged new safety measures in Australia by end of 2025 after pressure from the eSafety Commissioner. Accounts for under-16s will be private by default, and adult users will be blocked from contacting children without parental consent. The federal government has also committed to introducing a 'duty of care' for online services.
Cody urged gaming companies to act faster, saying bullied players are left to fend for themselves. 'We only need to work together to stop all bullying,' he said. The eSafety Commissioner can investigate serious cyberbullying cases and enforce compliance with industry codes.
