Analyzing Hate Speech Toward Players from the MENA in League of Legends

Sercan Sengün, Joni Salminen, Soon-Gyo Jung, Peter Mawhorter, Bernard J. Jansen

Abstract: We analyze hate speech toward the MENA players as a form of toxic behavior in League of Legends in-game and forum chats. We find that this kind of toxicity: (1) is initiated by one or two players; (2) sparks from criticizing the skills of team members; (3) can be elevated by frustration with game elements and hardware; and (4) can turn into personal clashes. There is also non-toxic use of abusive language, which stresses the importance of context-aware analysis (i.e., interpreting what is actually toxic). Finally, we find evidence that the type of toxicity varies by server location, advising gaming companies to consider the location of players when setting up policies to mitigate hate speech.