Microsoft seeking to clean up Xbox chat could be a step forward for the LGBT community’s safety
Everyone knows that online gaming can be hell, especially for those who are seen as ‘the minority’ in gaming communities. It’s too easy to find the person who you don’t feel did enough, or has words in their username like ‘lesbian, gay, etc’ and use it as an excuse to target people. However, Microsoft is paving a way forward, a way to clean up Xbox chat for good.
In a recent blog post, Microsoft detailed how they were going to use AI to give players control over what they can and can’t see through using filters. This could mean something as simple as swear words could be blocked from view, depending on the filter level you choose.
The blog states that these filter types are as follows: Friendly, Medium, Mature and Unfiltered.
As the blog explains “it’s essential that every player has the ability to choose their own filtration level, and that the settings work for gamers of all ages.” While age is most certainly a factor, the focus of everyone being different with their own filtration level is what really stands out to us.
As a gay woman, being online as just a woman alone is something that is a huge risk to my mental state. With these kinds of filters, blocking certain words will be able to protect from the abuse I get for just, well, being a woman that plays videogames. Which, as we all know, is a crime.
For gay men, it’s even worse. All due to a torrid combination of toxic masculinity and homophobia that plagues online spaces. With these sort of filters in place, we can at least be prevented from seeing the toxicity being sent our way.
Of course, this doesn’t stop voice-chat, but I most certainly believe that as Xbox and Microsoft continue to improve how we interact with one another online.
About The Author
Never forget this…ever
The only people who fear Openly gay or lesbian or LGBTQ types are closeted gay or lesbian or LGBTQ types.
In that people secure in their own sexual identity could care the less about others orientation…huh, what?
Humans simply fear that which they’re tempted by.
A true Hetero is not tempted by same sex types, thus no hostility.
Read the above again about 20 times please