harassment Archives

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

YouTube Tests Revival of In-App Messaging in Ireland and Poland

YouTube is testing the revival of its in-app direct messaging feature, which was discontinued in 2019. The limited rollout is currently available to users in Ireland and Poland and is aimed at users over 18, focusing on privacy and community guidelines. This feature allows for private conversations and video sharing within the app, reflecting user demand for integrated communication. The original messaging system, launched in 2017, was shut down due to low adoption rates and moderation challenges. The current testing phase suggests YouTube is refining the feature before a broader launch, with potential implications for creators to engage with fans directly. However, there are concerns regarding privacy and content moderation. The initiative aligns with industry trends emphasizing in-app communication and could enhance user engagement and advertising opportunities for YouTube.

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

I’m not sure what’s scarier in Bye Sweet Carole, the demonic owl or the fact that it rips apart an integral part of my childhood

The game "Bye Sweet Carole" features nostalgic 2D visuals and begins in a serene flower garden where players interact with birds and chase a rabbit. However, it quickly transitions to a darker atmosphere as the protagonist, Lana, navigates through an orphanage facing bullying and harassment. Players solve puzzles to progress, using creative mechanics like combining items to overcome obstacles. The narrative centers on Lana's quest to find her friend Carole, with hints of a deeper story. The game emphasizes narrative depth over jump scares and offers a unique horror experience while maintaining a classic 2D animation style.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

Man’s Daughter Was Crying After Being Harassed By Boy On A Minecraft Server, So He Found The Boy’s Dad And Told Him When His Son Had Done

A father took action after discovering his eight-year-old daughter was being harassed by a player named "Little Clown" on a Minecraft server. The daughter had been targeted with threats and inappropriate language after sharing her age. The father and his fiancée found recorded evidence of the harassment and identified the boy's real identity through an online search. They contacted the boy's father, who then imposed consequences on his son, revoking his computer privileges for the summer. The incident garnered positive reactions on social media, highlighting the importance of parental involvement in online gaming.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

Controversial dating safety apps Tea and TeaOnHer booted from Apple App Store

Apple has removed the women's safety app Tea and its male counterpart TeaOnHer from the App Store due to failure to meet content moderation and user privacy standards. The decision follows a cyberattack that exposed sensitive user information and concerns about security vulnerabilities in both apps. Apple cited non-compliance with its App Review Guidelines and Developer Code of Conduct. While both apps are no longer available on Apple's platform, they remain accessible on the Android app store.

AppWizard

October 2, 2025

New Steam study alleges that Valve’s store is home to extreme right-wing “wars”

An August 2025 paper published in Frontiers in Psychology by Alex Bradley-Newhouse and Rachel Kowert reveals that neo-fascist groups are increasingly using the gaming platform Steam to recruit members and harass opposing entities. These groups label their targets as "enemies" and their allies as supportive, indicating a troubling trend of right-wing extremism gaining traction on the platform. The study criticizes Steam's moderation systems as inadequate, noting that bad actors frequently create new accounts and obscure fascist symbols. Popular games among these communities include Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Hearts of Iron 4, the latter attracting players due to its World War II theme and modding capabilities that facilitate extremist ideologies. Valve's content moderation is described as inconsistent, with banned groups often reemerging and celebrating their ability to evade bans. Despite increased bans following a 2024 report from the Anti-Defamation League, extremist groups remain easily discoverable through Steam's social features. Valve's longstanding policy allows a wide range of content, raising questions about the effectiveness of its moderation.

AppWizard

August 19, 2025

Monster Hunter Wilds’ Free Title Update 4 to include large-scale PC optimization improvements

Capcom is set to release Free Title Update 4 for Monster Hunter Wilds this winter, focusing on enhancements for PC gamers. The update will optimize CPU and GPU performance, addressing issues like crashes, low frame rates, and gameplay stability. It will introduce one new monster and more challenging hunts, prioritizing performance improvements over weapon adjustments. Gradual improvements will be implemented in the weeks leading up to the update.

AppWizard

August 15, 2025

Man arrested for possession of child pornography after Kik Messenger investigation

Ryan Wayne Lawrence was arrested in Texas following an investigation into child exploitation on the Kik messaging platform. The arrest was based on an outstanding warrant related to child pornography charges. Kik reported 42 files that potentially contained child pornography, leading to a search warrant issued on March 31 for the account associated with the username “brutus198504.” A review of the materials revealed 95 videos and eight photographs, with 79 videos confirmed to depict child pornography. Investigators linked the Kik username to Lawrence, whose identity was confirmed through a comparison of his driver's license photograph. Lawrence has a prior harassment charge from 2021, and he is currently awaiting transport to the Howard County Jail after being magistrated with no bond set.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Republic Games hires Chris Avellone for new RPG project

Chris Avellone has officially joined Republic Games as a narrative designer. The studio is developing a new RPG featuring a rich story with meaningful choices and multiple endings. Studio founder Adam Williams expressed enthusiasm for Avellone's involvement, highlighting his significant contributions to the RPG genre. The game aims to create a dark fantasy experience with immersive gameplay and an interactive narrative. Avellone faced allegations of sexual harassment in 2020, which he has denied.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Jonathan Joss, who appeared in Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption, shot dead in Texas

Jonathan Joss, a 59-year-old actor known for his roles in video games and as John Redcorn in King of the Hill, was shot multiple times during a confrontation with a neighbor, Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, near his former residence, which had burned down earlier this year. Emergency medical services pronounced him dead at the scene. Joss's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, reported that they had faced over two years of harassment from local residents, including violent homophobic slurs, leading up to the incident. De Gonzales stated that Joss pushed him out of the way during the shooting, saving his life. Joss had previously indicated that the fire that destroyed their home was an accident caused by a barbecue grill, while de Gonzales claimed it was part of ongoing harassment. Joss's career included voice work in various television shows and video games, with notable roles in Red Dead Redemption, Days Gone, Wasteland 3, and Cyberpunk 2077. He was set to reprise his role in a revival of King of the Hill scheduled to premiere on Hulu in August.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Ubisoft denies reports that Yves Guillemot has been summoned in upcoming trial

Ubisoft has denied claims that CEO Yves Guillemot was summoned to court in connection with a trial involving former executives, labeling the reports as "unfounded." The rumors originated from the French union Solidaires Informatique, which suggested that Guillemot, HR director Marie Derain, and Ubisoft as a corporate entity had received summonses related to allegations of sexual harassment and bullying against former executives. A Ubisoft representative confirmed via email that neither Guillemot, the HR team, nor the company is involved in the proceedings and stated their commitment to cooperate with authorities during the investigation.