As online entertainment continues blending with youth culture, controversies involving popular internet personalities are becoming increasingly common. With anonymity and detachment from real-world consequences, online environments can sometimes foster regrettable behavior from fans and creators alike.
The recent complex situation involving allegations towards a former Vanoss crew member, known online as Ohmwrecker, prompted some serious questions about accountability, harassment, and handling conflicts of interest between influencers and their impressionable, often young, audiences.
While specifics around serious criminal accusations remain unverified and would be irresponsible to spread, there are nonetheless several constructive lessons that passionate gaming communities can take to heart when reflecting on such controversies.
Maintaining Perspective – Influencers are Still Human
In the rapid rise of YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and Instagram influencer culture, it‘s easy to forget that even the most popular online celebrities are still fundamentally human underneath the hype. And humans are inherently imperfect, emotional creatures – including talented entertainers.
What Experts Say About Parasocial Relationships
"Parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships, where one person extends emotional energy, interest and time, and the other party, the persona, is completely unaware of the other‘s existence." – Dr. S. Cohen, U. Buffalo[1]
As passionate fans, we unconsciously form perceived intimate bonds and can even become emotionally invested in the details of an influencer‘s interpersonal conflicts or friendships. But in reality, we only see a carefully curated sliver of their full lives.
So while outrage over controversies may feel justified and personal in the heat of the moment, taking a step back for nuance and context is crucial. After all, every public figure once started as a regular private individual trying to navigate personal relationships – and they deserve room for that too.
Allegations Need Credible Substantiation
When serious accusations emerge about abuse, harassment, or other illegal behaviors, feelings understandably run high. Especially when marginalized groups appear exploited.
However, the ethics around reporting allegations are complex. Even with good intentions, spreading unverified rumors can profoundly, and permanently, impact lives and reputations.
As the American Psychological Association explains:
"Defamation law balances the free speech rights of the person making the false statement with the rights of the victim and society to uphold reputations based in fact."[2]
So when outraged over concerning controversies, the healthiest response is patience for due process and evidence gathering from reliable, non-partisan authorities. Well-meaning creators and fans should avoid playing judge or jury in the court of public opinion until the facts are thoroughly established. False accusations have ruined innocent lives.
And if evidence ultimately does validate wrongdoing, punishment should emphasize rehabilitation over retaliation.
Interpersonal Conflicts Are Inevitable
Unlike traditional Hollywood collaborators, internet entertainers often lack formal training in conflict resolution or separation of professional versus personal disagreements.
Pairs or groups who regularly game together for YouTube or stream on Twitch rely heavily on genuine chemistry and friendship during long unstructured recordings. So tensions or misunderstandings emerging between such collaborators can feel especially emotionally charged.
Add in the complexity of business partnerships tied to revenue and branding deals, and conditions are ripe for blowups.
Human emotions inevitably flare and things are said in anger. But maturity involves self-restraint and seeking to understand different perspectives.
Expert Mediation Guidelines
The American Bar Association provides constructive advice for mediating conflict:[3]
- Set clear relationship expectations
- Improve communication skills
- Identify triggers and self-manage reactions
- Seek areas of common understanding
With compassion and willingness to grow, even severe breaches of trust can be healed between colleagues and friends over time.
Obsession With Controversy Fuels Toxicity
Amid outrage over influencer scandals, it‘s easy to become consumed by bitterness or an unhealthy addiction to drama. Especially when new developments continually emerge across convoluted threads on Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, and Discord.
Such reactionary fixation though rarely leads anywhere positive. And accusations flung carelessly on the internet live on forever, resurfacing periodically.
Harassment Statistics
- 40% of Americans have personally experienced online harassment[4]
- 51% of Americans think online harassment is an major problem[4]
Seeking justice is natural, but stewing endlessly promotes negativity and attacks others are struggling with. For community health, moderation is key. Creators guiding young audiences especially should consider youth vulnerability before publicly calling out peers over private affairs.
There are many positive discussions and worthwhile causes that don‘t require dwelling on the past.
Growth Mindset – Learning From Mistakes
Redemption is possible. While consequences for dangerous criminal behaviors should reflect severity, society is generally better served through rehabilitation over retaliation.
For less severe transgressions of internet etiquette, a compassionate approach focused on learning rather than punishment stands the best chance of preventing future harms.
As established in positive psychology:
“A growth mindset creates motivation for self-improvement, believing people have the potential for change." – Dr. Carol Dweck of Stanford University[5]
With sincere apologies and demonstrated willingness to improve, creators deserve opportunities to regain trust.
If audiences value companies upholding high ethical standards though, second chances for severely problematic influencers should depend on completion of sensitivity training, speaking with victim advocacy groups, and other substantive reparative actions before regaining platforms.
For less severe altercations not involving criminal allegations, opening constructive dialogue, owning past mistakes and establishing clear rules of conduct can mend broken trust between even badly feuding collaborators.
Restorative Justice Practices
The Centre for Justice & Reconciliation summarizes effective restorative principles:[6]
- Repairing harm through cooperative processes
- Involving all stakeholders
- Transforming community relationships
- Focusing on harms, needs, obligations
- Using inclusive, open & respectful engagement
This emphasis on reconciliation and healing – rather than hurting those who hurt you – aligns with many spiritual traditions on responding to harm with compassion rather than anger. For even severe conflicts, restorative justice may better prevent future harms.
Final Thoughts
As online entertainment becomes increasingly interwoven with emerging youth cultures, disputes involving internet celebrities will only grow more complex. But there are always constructive lessons fans and creators can take, regardless of specifics.
Getting outraged over controversies is understandable. However, avoiding reactionary assumptions, and allowing proper credible investigations to run their course, respects justice. If punishments are due, focus on growth rather than vengeance. And when possible emphasize open communication, forgiveness and reconciliation.
For creators entrusted with young audiences especially, addressing controversies with maturity and discretion is paramount, avoiding drama obsession. Compassion and level-headedness prevent communities spiraling down negativity.
Overall the golden lessons are patience, empathy and good faith in one another. Imperfect beings will always make mistakes. But much can be resolved by extending the kindness and understanding we wish for ourselves.