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The LAENOG Project – Latin American & European Network in Online Gaming team recently met at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) to review the progress of the acquisition and installation of equipment for the creation of a MOOC room, sponsored by the project.

💡 This new facility will allow students and professors at UERJ to benefit from innovative technological resources and an interactive online teaching methodology, reinforcing LAENOG’s commitment to inclusive and accessible digital education.

🔎 Raising awareness, researching, and acting against online gaming toxicity

During the visit to Rio de Janeiro, we also presented the LAENOG Project to students, as part of the congress “Digital Violence in Games: From the Classroom to the Online Environment”.LAENOG studies online toxicity through an intercultural lens, identifying key differences:

• Latin America → more collectivist and hierarchical cultures, where competitiveness can be perceived as a sign of status.
• Europe → more egalitarian and decentralized societies, with lower tolerance for discriminatory behaviours, particularly related to gender.

Understanding these differences is essential to designing effective and context-sensitive strategies.

📢 Call to Action

One of the pillars of the project is listening to the gaming community. We invite all players aged 14 to 18 to take part in our survey on toxic behaviours in online gaming.

👉 Survey available here: https://laenog.com/self-assessment/
By completing it, you immediately receive your results in an interactive dashboard.

Your voice is key to building better tools and creating healthier digital environments.

💬 The future of gaming depends on all of us.
At LAENOG we believe that every action, every choice, every intervention matters.
Together, we can transform online games into spaces of respect, creativity, and inclusion.

📢✨ LAENOG proudly participated in the 2nd International Congress on Mental Health and Human Development (CISMDH), presenting two scientific posters! 🌍🎓

🔹 Behavioral Analysis of Online Video Game Users in Competitive Environments – A Pilot Study (LAENOG Project)

👾 Findings reveal toxic behaviors such as trolling and flaming among young players, highlighting the need for schools and families to work together in fostering healthier digital habits.

🔹 Physical Activity and Screen Time in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

⚽📱 Evidence shows that regular physical activity is a key strategy to reduce screen time and prevent health risks linked to sedentary lifestyles in childhood.

💡 These studies reinforce LAENOG’s commitment to exploring the impact of digital technologies and promoting physical, psychological, and social well-being among young people.

📍 Presented at the 2nd CISMDH ➝ @cismdh_ powered by Empoderadas.

@laenog.erasmus

🎮 Do you play online games? This message is for you. The LAENOG project is researching why toxic behaviors arise in games: why they happen, how they manifest themselves, and how we can better manage them. Want to help the community grow? 👉 Fill out the questionnaire: laenog.com/self-assessment/ Share with your friends – every response matters! #LAENOG #Esports #GamingCommunity #InternationalCollaboration #ErasmusPlus #CBHE

♬ original sound – laenog.erasmus

The LAENOG project is researching why toxic behaviors arise in games: why they happen, how they manifest themselves, and how we can better manage them.

Want to help the community grow? 👉 Fill out the questionnaire: laenog.com/self-assessment/

Share with your friends – every response matters!

From June 2-4, the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, hosted the second in-person meeting of LAENOG.

Partners from Europe and Latin America came together to develop research tools and dissemination strategies, with a special focus on Work Package 2: analyzing the literature, identifying cultural factors from participating countries, and designing an instrument to detect toxic behaviors among adolescents aged 14-18 in online gaming environments.

We’re grateful to Nicolaus Copernicus University for hosting this international workshop and advancing our shared mission to promote safer, more inclusive online spaces for young gamers. 🎮🌍

We’re proud to have presented the LAENOG project at the International Staff Week 2025 at Instituto Superior Técnico / Lisbon University, where Natacha Moniz shared our work with over 120 participants from 20+ countries through poster displays, leaflets, and direct dialogue.

Focusing on Panama and Brazil, LAENOG addresses toxic behavior in online gaming, equipping educators and families with tools to promote digital well-being and inclusive gaming environments.

On April 23, the LAENOG project was presented at the 43rd Anniversary Celebration of the Faculty of Computer Systems Engineering at Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP). The event welcomed hundreds of students, faculty, and researchers, providing a valuable space for academic exchange and public engagement.

As part of the celebration, a poster presentation introduced the goals and ongoing activities of LAENOG. Professors José Chiru, Denis Cedeño, and Paulo Picota joined the session, sharing insights and answering questions from attendees about the impact of online gaming on young players in Latin America.

One highlight of the event was the participation of students from the Bachelor’s Program in Software Management and Development. These students engaged directly with the project proposal, asking thoughtful questions and offering valuable feedback on our work.

We were proud to participate in this event hosted at Universidad Andrés Bello on March 28–29. Under the theme “Technology, Innovation and Vanguard in the Sports Industry”, the Congress became a hub for discussion, collaboration, and shared visions for the future of sport.

Researchers from across Latin America and Europe brought powerful insight, reinforcing the role of sport as a driver for social change, innovation, and development. 💡🌍

On February 17-18, 2025, we officially launched LAENOG! Coordinated and hosted by Universidade de Lisboa.

👥 Our Speakers:
✅ Tiago Ribeiro, Natacha Moniz, Ana Santos, Cristina Espadinha (Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal – Coordinator)
✅ Matheuz Tomanek (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland)
✅ Leonor Gallardo (Universidad de Castilla – La Mancha, Spain)
✅ Otavio Figueiredo (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
✅ Lucina Menezes (Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
✅ Aris Castillo (Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Panama)
✅ Olga Fábrega (Universidad Especializada de las Américas, Panama)
✅ Rui Vieira (Sport Evolution Alliance CRL)
✅ Tiago Fernandes (Esports Europe – The European Esports Federation)
✅ Maria Giovanna Cordero (Erasmus+ Focal Point)

💡 Over two days, we met our objectives through key presentations and discussions on the work packages (WP):
📌 WP1: Project Management
📌 WP2: Micro-analysis
📌 WP3: Development
📌 WP4: Exchange
📌 WP5: Dissemination and Communication

Additionally, we coordinated the expected outputs for the next six months and established the Quality Committee and Dissemination Committee to guide our work.