International organization Save the Children has published a report titled "Protecting Child Rights in Esports," calling on the esports industry to place children's rights and health above competitive and athletic achievements. The authors of the study note that safeguards for young esports players have failed to keep pace with the high demands placed on them, putting their physical and mental health, education, and family life at risk.
According to the organization, over 300 million children worldwide play video games. While esports helps develop teamwork and critical thinking, intensive training without proper oversight creates serious risks. Theo Toresson, a psychologist and gaming expert at Save the Children, emphasized that young participants must be recognized as children first and competitors second.
The report highlights critical issues faced by young players in structured and competitive environments:
- Lack of Unified Standards: The industry currently lacks standardized regulations governing training duration, rest schedules, ergonomics, and nutrition, leading to kids playing without regulated breaks.
- Physical Issues: Extended gaming sessions without proper physical activity lead to sleep disruption as well as neck, shoulder, and wrist pain.
- Psychological Pressure and Toxicity: Intense competition, audience scrutiny, and cyberbullying contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression.
The report pays special attention to hate speech in live stream chatrooms (including Twitch, YouTube, and Discord). Analysis of chat activity during streams from top content creators revealed high levels of toxic content: violent language was present in 97% of analyzed streams, ableism in 84%, sexism in 62%, and racism in 37%.
Save the Children urges esports federations, teams, and tournament organizers to base their practices on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The organization insists on establishing a centralized set of guidelines, providing access to mental health resources, training staff in psychological first aid, and involving young players in decision-making processes that affect their future in the industry.
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