Taylor Lorenz’s Power User Doxxed, harassed and silenced: the fallout of Gamergate 2.0
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Jan 16, 2025 Alyssa Mercante, a journalist targeted for exposing harassment in gaming, dives into the chilling revival of Gamergate-style attacks. She shares her harrowing experiences of being at the center of a smear campaign and the impact on her career and mental health. Alyssa discusses the toxic online culture perpetuated by algorithms and the complicity of gaming companies. With a focus on gender dynamics, she highlights the disproportionate backlash women face in the industry and advocates for collective action against online harassment.
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The Sweet Baby Incident
- Alyssa Mercante investigated a conspiracy theory about Sweet Baby Inc., a video game consultancy.
- This group was accused of forcing "woke ideologies" into games, leading to harassment of the company and anyone who defended it.
Resurgence of Online Harassment
- The resurgence of Gamergate-like harassment is linked to several factors, including the election year and political divisions.
- The lack of strong responses from major players in the video game industry during the initial Gamergate contributed to its resurgence.
Elon's X and Toxic Algorithm
- Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) plays a significant role in boosting harassment campaigns through its algorithm and monetization strategy.
- Controversial tweets generate more engagement and revenue, incentivizing harmful content and boosting its visibility.