Call for Young Gamers: Help Build Safer Online Communities from Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia
Are you a young gamer passionate about fostering safer digital spaces? The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), with support from the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), is calling on youth from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to join a groundbreaking new initiative: Building Safer Online Gaming Communities.
This innovative project, implemented by the UNOCT/UNCCT Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) and generously funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs, aims to address the growing misuse of gaming platforms by violent extremist actors in Southeast Asia.
About the Project
Violent extremist groups are increasingly exploiting online gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms to spread propaganda, recruit followers, and incite violence. As the fastest-growing gaming market globally, Southeast Asia is expected to reach nearly 247 million gamers by 2027. While this growth fosters digital connectivity and entertainment, it also creates vulnerabilities. This project seeks to better understand these threats and equip youth with the tools to counter them.
Through regional research, expert consultations, and stakeholder engagement, the project will deepen knowledge on how extremist actors operate in gaming ecosystems. It will also convene young gamers, tech industry leaders, policymakers, and PCVE experts to co-develop recommendations for preventing violent extremism conductive to terrorism online.
Youth Call for Applications
UNOCT and its partners are seeking young gamers aged 18 to 29 from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to actively contribute to this initiative. Applicants should have experience in gaming community management or content moderation, and demonstrate commitment to countering hate speech, misinformation, online harassment, and radicalization to violence.
Why Participate?
- Shape the Conversation: Contribute to a pioneering research report on the intersection of gaming and violent extremism in Southeast Asia. Selected participants will join focus groups and provide insights on digital safety challenges.
- Build New Skills: Access tailored online and in-person training delivered by leading experts from the gaming industry, cyber safety field, and PCVE sector. Topics will include safe platform navigation, community moderation, preventing doxxing and online radicalization, and more.
- Join a Regional Network: Become part of a peer resource group supported by UNOCT’s Youth Alumni network and global experts. Benefit from mentorship, share lessons learned, and connect with a growing community of like-minded youth leaders.
- Create Impact: Participants may contribute to a regional guidance document on online safety in gaming platforms—co-developed with policymakers, tech platforms, and fellow gamers. Your voice will help shape regional and global responses to violent extremism in digital spaces.
Apply now to be part of a bold new approach to countering violent extremism online—by and for young gamers. Applications close on 31 August 2025.
