More exciting interviews on MeinMMO:
- Principal speaks about social media and influencers:
- Principal speaks about social media and influencers:
More exciting interviews on MeinMMO:
- Principal speaks about social media and influencers:
On the Internet and in gaming communities, there is often a bad atmosphere. Whether it’s in forums, on reddit, or directly in the game. Not everyone can just brush it off, and it ruins not only the mood for many but also gaming as a hobby. As a Digital Streetworker, Nando is active in these communities and tries to help.
We all are active in gaming communities. Whether directly in the game, or in forums like reddit and Discord. You quickly notice a rather rough tone of communication and unnecessary insults among each other.
Many people do not pass these things, especially when combined with problems in real life, unnoticed. Nando is part of the Digital Streetwork program. He and his colleagues are active on the internet and try to help where help is needed.
He is an expert in social skills, social media, and gaming, and actively approaches young people in these communities, attempting to work out solutions with them and refer them to the right places.
In an extensive interview, we spoke with him about Digital Streetwork in general, but also specifically inquired about the problems arising in gaming and why. In this part of a two-part interview, it is about his work and everyday life as a social worker on the internet.
In the second part of the interview, we will discuss advice and tips on how to deal with difficult situations.
“Providing a safe space where people can meet”
Mark from MeinMMO: Hello, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Nando: My name is Nando, I am 31, I come from Regensburg, and I work as a Digital Streetworker.
Mark from MeinMMO: What exactly is a Digital Streetworker?
Nando: I am active on various social media platforms. Among others, on reddit, Instagram, and Discord, and I work there with the various opportunities provided by the platform.
For example, content work and content creation on Insta, but especially a lot of outreach work, according to the professional standards of social work, streetwork, on reddit.
What is streetwork? Streetwork in the traditional sense is an independent field within social work. It specifically deals with outreach work and encompasses the way one can establish contact with the target group that is usually not reached by regular aid services.There, I look at what people write on the internet all day. And when a suitable need arises where I can support, in the role of Digital Streetworker and social worker. I then offer them a free, voluntary, anonymous service that I can support them.
Then people turn to me if they have a need.
Anonymous, free of charge, and confidential – Three principles of Digital Streetwork (via digital-streetwork-bayern.de). Mark from MeinMMO: What does your typical workday look like?
Nando: In the morning, I get up and first look at what has happened during the time I was offline. What people have written or what reactions there were to the content. So, I check all the emails and notifications in the morning.
Then I am on reddit for 1 to 3 hours, depending on how much is going on. There, I check: “What has been written in the various subreddits? And where can I offer support?” That is then the morning and forenoon.
Then there is always a regular meeting with my colleague because we both work very closely together. We discuss what we can do on our own subreddit. Or also what content we can produce, for example, on Insta, but also analog things, with which institutions we would like to create partnerships and collaborations.
Simply see what is currently happening directly in our region and what is relevant for our target group.
Mark from MeinMMO: Besides social media, you are also active in the field of “gaming”; how can one imagine this?
Nando: It depends a lot on the game itself. I am either in the game and in the in-game chat, or also in various groups around it. The topic of online gaming itself is also addressed, as it is simply a good access point to the target audience and their living environment.
Various game nights are also organized, this can then be on the Switch, like Mario Party. Or community games that are simply possible for everyone, such as Scribble.io or Gartic Phone.
Maybe sometimes stream and then do a stream with the people so they can play along, live on stream. Also organizing various gaming events in the region. A gaming olympiad is planned, for example.
This is all a good way to get in contact with the target group and to provide a safe space where people can meet. That is what we are dealing with in terms of gaming.
Mark from MeinMMO: You just mentioned the target audience; who exactly is the offer aimed at?
Nando: The offer is aimed at all young people and young adults between the ages of 14 and 27 from Bavaria. That is the main target group. We work for the District Youth Ring of Oberpfalz, so specifically for the region in Oberpfalz.
Then we have colleagues who are also responsible for other districts. So we are actually responsible for Bavaria, but since the borders of the internet are infinitely wide, we also have some people coming to us from all over Germany.
We also hold ourselves to the standard that everyone who seeks help will also receive help. Of course, our capacities are more focused on helping those who are within the target group, for which we are paid and funded.
But if someone comes who is a little older or not from Bavaria, we also try to help them or at least enable good and quick referrals.
Nando also talks about his work on YouTube:
“I often notice that people are put down without reason”
Mark from MeinMMO: What problems do you encounter daily in gaming?
Nando: From what I observe, there is a lot of toxic behavior, toxicity. Due to having a gamer tag and being very anonymous in this world, it quickly drifts into toxic and even threatening territory.
People are quickly put down for their gameplay, and the [those doing the put-downs] do not even know what kind of person is behind it.
In general, when one starts a game, they want to escape the problems they have in real life. Simply having a good time and perhaps not even being the person they are in real life.
Unfortunately, it continues in the virtual world and everything turns out very differently than one thought they would spend their time. I simply notice very often that people are put down without reason.
“It’s a wonderful thing when you realize your work has value for people”
Mark from MeinMMO: What was the most beautiful moment for you in your profession as a Digital Streetworker?
Nando: I believe the most beautiful moments are really those when you receive feedback that you were able to help people. You hear that more often, but it’s truly wonderful. When you see that you’ve been able to provide some type of support and referral to people you don’t even know, who are just account names.
Sometimes you hear nothing for weeks and months until something comes back and they say: “I never thought this would help me. But I achieved this and that.” Those are just beautiful things when you realize the work has value for people.
- Principal speaks about social media and influencers:
- Principal speaks about social media and influencers:
