A new hotline has emerged to help gamers, and unlike the hotlines from the late 80s and early 90s, this hotline offers emotional support compared to giving them hints and tips on how to pass certain levels or defeat bosses.
A New Game-Centric Hotline
According to a WIRED report, the hotline is called the Games and Online Harassment Hotline (GOHH), which is a text-based hotline that provides free support for gamers who are victims of online harassment, hate, and cyberbullying.
The hotline could also help gamers deal with everything that's happening with the gaming industry lately.
In June, the gaming industry is under fire after gaming execs, and dozens accused well-known Twitch streamers of people, mostly women, over on Twitter for alleged sexual harassment and misconduct and grooming issues.
It's common for players to receive hate from other players, especially when they are persons of color, disabled, or members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Several giant gaming companies like EA have strengthened their rules when it comes to hate speech and cyberbullying, which, although many believe will not stop it from happening, is a good first step at the very least.
Now, GOHH can offer emotional support to the gaming community, including gamers, streamers, game developers, Discord server members, or even online trolls.
Free Emotional Support From Experts
Those who want to get emotional support can do so anonymously. The hotline promises confidentiality, meaning whatever information you share will not be shared with the public or even to fellow gamers or counselors.
GOHH works with counselors who are experts in all things mental health, plus they are also well-versed in the gaming industry's system and the lingo as they have been trained to understand game-specific concepts.
According to the report, the text-based hotline is accessible for people aged 13 and up as long as they have a United States phone number starting this Tuesday, Aug. 4, between 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET from Mondays to Fridays.
How it Works
To gain access to the hotline, people simply have to text the word "Support" and send it to 23368.
"Established call centers" will then process your query and ask a few basic questions to ensure that you are using the right platform for your type of problem and help you connect with a counselor.
After that, you can begin sharing your stories and feelings through a back-and-forth text conversation.
The free hotline stemmed from the years of non-profit media advocacy of Feminist Frequency and is run through the organization's donation-powered funding model.
"I don't want the hotline to get caught up in my reputation," FF founder Anita Sarkeesian said in an interview with Ars Technica, referring to the violent reactions to her and her advocacy for the past years. "But I want the hotline to exist for anyone who needs it. I'm not answering any of the texts. You're not going to reach me at any point. The values of Feminist Frequency and the hotline are intertwined: it's its own space where people can go with emotional needs."
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Written by: Nhx Tingson
