August 3rd marked the launch of The Games and Online Harassment Hotline, a free, anonymous, and confidential text messaging emotional support hotline for gamers. By simply texting the word SUPPORT to 23368 (USA only for now) during the hours of 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. PT, Monday-Friday, gamers will be able to talk live with a friendly and caring fellow human who will help you with the support you need.
The Games and Online Harassment Hotline was initiated by prominent anti-abuse and harassment activist Anita Sarkeesian, founder of the non-profit educational organization Feminist Frequency, as a direct response to the video games #MeToo movement in 2019. In true gamer fashion, Sarkeesian gathered a party of mental health and social services experts, including Christopher Vu Gandin Le (CEO of Emotion Technology) to help establish the Hotline.
The Hotline is but a single element in a full network of entities dedicated to eliminating sexism, privilege, and toxic culture from the gaming industry, inspired in large part by the crisis helpline Crash Override and the work of Zoe Quinn. Once you text SUPPORT to 23368, you’ll be asked to answer some automated questions to help direct you to one of the many properly-qualified Hotline agents who will attentively listen to your experience and provide you with the support and resources you need via text conversation. Depending on your case, the Hotline agent may also direct you towards any legal resources and actions your situation may require.
To help keep the Hotline a freely-available resource for the gaming community, it will certainly need our assistance in return. The Hotline is set up to receive donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit project of Feminist Frequency, and all contributions are 100% tax-deductible. The Hotline is also open for volunteers who wish to give their personal time and energy to help the Hotline grow and succeed. There is even a Streamer Creator Kit available for streamers who wish to host fundraising efforts on their platforms.
Again, text SUPPORT to 23368 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. PT, Monday-Friday if you’re in the United States gaming community seeking a personally supportive and confidential human being to talk to regarding any online abuse or harassment you’ve experienced. Click over to The Games and Online Harassment Hotline website and Twitter channel for the full details.
Source: The Games and Online Harassment Hotline
