Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Perkembangan teknologi komunikasi digital telah mengubah pola interaksi sosial dalam komunitas game daring, termasuk dalam permainan PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). Salah satu konsekuensi dari intensitas komunikasi tersebut adalah munculnya perilaku agresif berupa tindakan bullying yang dilakukan melalui fitur voice chat pada platform Discord. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami persepsi pemain PUBG terhadap perilaku bullying dalam komunikasi virtual di Discord, mengidentifikasi dampak yang ditimbulkan, serta menganalis upaya penanggulangannya. Teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah teori interaksi simbolik, yang menekankan bahwa makna dibangun melalui proses interaksi sosial dan penggunaan simbol-simbol seperti ujaran, nada suara dan istilah khusus lainnya yang dapat membentuk persepsi diri, identitas kelompok dan relasi kuasa antar pemain. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian deskriptif. Data diperoleh melalui wawancara semiterstruktur yang dilakukan dengan lima orang pemain PUBG dan pengguna Discord. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa persepsi pemain terhadap bullying di Discord cenderung memandang perilaku tersebut sebagai hal yang normal dalam permainan kompetitif. Namun persepsi tersebut menjadi negatif ketika tindakan yang dilakukan bersifat berulang, menargetkan individu secara spesifik, menimbulkan ketidaknyamanan dan mengandung unsur diskriminatif. Bullying berdampak secara psikologis, emosional, dan sosial, seperti menurunnya kepercayaan diri, munculnya perasaan sedih, marah, dan kesal, serta kecenderungan menarik diri dan membatasi interaksi dalam tim. Upaya penanggulangan dapat dilakukan melalui peningkatan kesadaran etika komunikasi, pengendalian bahasa, penguatan aturan komunitas, peran aktif moderator, serta penerapan sistem pelaporan dan sanksi seperti mute, kick, dan banned untuk menciptakan lingkungan komunikasi yang lebih aman. Kata Kunci : Bullying, Discord, Interaksi Simbolik, PUBG, Komunikasi Virtual.

The development of digital communication technology has transformed social interaction patterns within online gaming communities, including in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). One consequence of this high level of communication intensity is the emergence of aggressive behavior in the form of bullying through the voice chat feature on the Discord platform. This study aims to understand PUBG players’ perceptions of bullying behavior in virtual communication on Discord, identify its impacts, and analyze efforts to address it. This research applies symbolic interaction theory, which emphasizes that meaning is constructed through social interaction and the use of symbols such as speech, tone of voice, and other specific terms that can shape self-perception, group identity, and power relations among players. A qualitative approach with a descriptive research design was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five PUBG players who are also Discord users. The findings show that players generally perceive bullying in Discord as a normal part of competitive gaming. However, this perception shifts to a negative one when the behavior is repeated, targets specific individuals, causes discomfort, and contains discriminatory elements. Bullying has psychological, emotional, and social impacts, such as decreased self-confidence, feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration, as well as a tendency to withdraw and limit interaction within the team. Efforts to address bullying include increasing awareness of communication ethics, controlling language use, strengthening community rules, the active role of moderators, and implementing reporting systems and sanctions such as mute, kick, and ban to create a safer communication environment. Keywords: Bullying, Discord, Symbolic Interactionism, PUBG, Virtual Communication