Team Vitality has teamed up with Philips’ gaming monitor brand EVNIA and AI moderation company Bodyguard to tackle online toxicity in esports, releasing a new report that sheds light on the issue ahead of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.

The initiative is part of Team Vitality’s KARE program, launched in 2023 to promote mental health awareness and safety within gaming communities. Between Aug. 1 and Oct. 6, Bodyguard monitored 19 Team Vitality accounts across major social media platforms, analyzing over 57,000 messages and blocking more than 2,000 toxic comments in real time.

According to the report, hateful messages accounted for 3.6% of total interactions—slightly below the esports average of 4.2%. Meanwhile, over 10% of messages were positive, suggesting that ongoing education and community outreach are beginning to make an impact. The protection extended to more than 4.5 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube.

 

“In esports, just like in traditional sports, online hate can destroy careers,” said Charles Cohen, founder and CEO of Bodyguard. “With Bodyguard, we protect both the players and the passion of millions of fans.”

 

A Push for Safer Online Spaces

Team Vitality’s players and staff often face waves of online harassment after major matches, particularly on X and Instagram, where toxicity rates reached 4.6% and 2.5%, respectively. The report notes that many harmful comments target players’ performance, appearance, or background, and in some cases extend to family members.

Fabien “Neo” Devide, co-founder and president of Team Vitality, emphasized that mental well-being is now a central focus for the organization. “Social media can lift you up or tear you down. It’s essential to find balance and protect our people from the darker side of the online world,” Devide said.

While esports continues to face higher levels of online hostility than traditional sports, Team Vitality’s efforts—supported by Bodyguard’s AI tools and EVNIA’s advocacy—demonstrate that proactive moderation and community engagement can make a measurable difference.

The organizations plan to continue developing tools and educational initiatives to foster an esports culture that values inclusion, respect, and mental health alongside competitive excellence.