Inside the game, violent imagery in online gaming

At first glance, online gaming looks like harmless entertainment, filled with laughter, teamwork and competition. However, there is a hidden danger, which is violence in the virtual world. It operates invisibly, normalised through play, unseen, unquestioned and desensitised. For Caribbean Anthropology my mini-ethnography, “Violent Imagery in Online Gaming,” explores how this hidden world is experienced, normalised and made meaningful by players. In the lively, competitive world of online gaming, characterised by gun violence, military and gore, I sought to understand how repeated exposure to graphic violence reshapes emotional responses and social interactions. I focused on desensitisation and how players came to view violent imagery as “normal.” Within the game, killing isn’t framed as moral actions, but instead, it becomes routine, strategic and even humorous. Players celebrated kill streaks and titles such as ”most violent player,” as well as admire gory graphic effects and aggressive languages. Over time players were no longer shocked. They didn’t emphasize as much as they had previously. They came to expect this violence and it became familiar. 

This normalisation extends beyond the screen, influencing how players who frequently play games, view real-world violence, weapons and aggression often showcasing emotional distance. This issue deserves far more active attention within the gaming society, as it remains overlooked despite its impact on young players’ psychological and emotional development. If this issue is addressed more critically, it could contribute to more meaningful public awareness of how violence becomes normalised. As a Criminology student, I strongly believe that the recognition of how widespread violence is in digital spaces is necessary as the virtual and physical worlds influence each other. When virtual killing becomes routine and accompanied by emotional distance, what does that mean for how young players come to understand real-world violence and empathy? 

By Aliyah Castilo