Cyberbullying in video games is complicated for Ugandan parents, because it primarily afflicts individuals in digital spaces.
You can’t convince a Ugandan parent that cyberbullying in video games is a problem when their child can simply close the game and unplug the computer. They don’t realize that newer generations grew up with the internet.
Their lives are intimately intertwined with cyberspace. Why do you think mental health organizations have identified intentional exclusion as a form of cyberbullying? Intentional exclusion are the steps some bullies will take to keep you out of your favourite online communities.
For most teens and pre-teens, online gaming spaces are social tools. Yes, they play video games, but those headsets are not decorative. They use online gaming sessions to talk the same way they would if they met at school, confiding in one another, keeping in touch, organizing study groups, etc.
When your child becomes the target of bullying, they have no choice but to tolerate it because removing themselves from those online spaces means disconnecting from their social circles. Forcing the issue and confiscating their gaming equipment won’t solve the problem because your child’s friends are still online.
And they won’t hesitate to carry a bully’s false rumours and offensive insults to your child’s ears once he or she enters the classroom. In a way, cyberbullying is worse than traditional bullying because children can’t escape it; not when the internet has become so ubiquitous.
According to a 2025 Statista study, 67 per cent of respondents said they had been called offensive names while playing video games. You know how uncouth men can be. Teenage boys are particularly problematic because abusive language is part and parcel of their vocabulary.
Believe it or not, offensive insults are their way of showing you they care and that you are part of the gang. But newcomers don’t know that, and the coarse language is just likely to repel them. Sometimes, your child is simply in the wrong digital space and no actual offense was meant.
In other words, differentiating between true cyberbullying and a simple clash of cultures is easier said than done. And at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. Your objective as a parent is to protect your child from anything that may scar them during their formative years, regardless of the intention.
That means keeping an eye out for symptoms of cyberbullying. For instance, if your child is always anxious or depressed after playing video games, pay attention. This also applies to children who become withdrawn, develop a disdain for school, or gradually lose interest in their hobbies.
The key is to maintain open communication lines from a young age. If you have shown your children that you take their problems seriously and you are eager to listen without judgment, they are more likely to confide in you when they encounter cyberbullies.
As far as practical solutions are concerned, most gaming platforms have tools that allow players to block bullies. You can do the same on social media, not to mention reporting bad actors to the relevant online authorities (such as community moderators).
Depending on how young they are, you can deliberately steer your children towards gaming spaces that use content moderation and communication monitoring systems. Make sure their terms and conditions include warnings and penalties for players who misbehave.
Otherwise, you can’t trust them to protect your child’s mental health. In the worst cases, where your child has begun to unravel because of cyberbullying, you can take drastic measures (forcing them to disconnect from the digital world).
Fight the urge to take a dismissive attitude towards cyberbullying. Just because you don’t understand the concept does not mean it won’t affect your child. The number of teens who commit suicide because of cyberbullying is alarming.
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