Play For Your Rights

Five ways Animal Crossers used the game as a platform for positive change and virtual activism in 2020

STORY BY DANIELLE JAQUEZ PHOTOS BY ELYSSA RUIZ DESIGN BY ALYSSA NICOLE MAUN

Living in a pandemic-stricken country with a crashing economy and a clown for president sent many of us twenty-somethings looking for a virtual escape. But while some of us simply ran around our Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) town fi shing and smacking villagers with our net, others utilized the game’s customization and multiplayer features to encourage social change.

In 2020, ACNH became a safe haven and a place to express oneself. Here are some of the ways players used the game to promote change, encourage conversations about social justice, and usher in a new era of virtual activism.

LGBTQ+ Virtual Pride

Physical Pride may have been canceled this year, but that didn’t stop the LGBTQ+ community from celebrating. An Animal Crossing pride festival was held during the Global Pride event on June 27, and thousands of users joined the celebration by hosting pride-themed events and meetups on their islands.

Aside from the pandemic-related safety of the virtual setting, this event was also more inclusive of community members who normally cannot attend in-person pride events for various reasons.

Freedom, Liberation, and Justice

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has been embraced by many online communities, and Animal Crossing is no exception. Supporters began adding BLM imagery to in-game custom designs and sharing them on social media for download, allowing users to promote the cause on their own islands with BLM apparel, signs, and island designs.

A Call For Democracy

Hong Kong protesters used Animal Crossing in 2020 to spread awareness of their fi ght against mainland China’s infl uence. Pro-democracy campaigners held virtual protests when the pandemic and government barred them from in-person demonstrations. Many of these protests went viral, leading to increased exposure in other parts of the world and important discussions.

Sex Positivity & Side Hustles

Dominatrices began using Animal Crossing as a safe virtual environment to interact with clients and keep their business alive during the pandemic. For a small price, they hit clients with nets, locked them in virtual cages, and forced them to do island chores such as watering fl owers. The possibility for safe virtual interaction in the world of Animal Crossing also encouraged people who are curious about domination to safely explore it.

Voting in the 2020 Election Was Tom Nook Approved

Political groups and fi gures also used the game to encourage young people to vote in the 2020 election. NextGen America, a nonprofi t focused on mobilizing young voters, held in-game rallies to encourage users to participate in politics. Politicians like President Joe Biden o ered in-game campaign signs to place in virtual yards and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) spent time visiting her Twitter followers’ islands clad in hand-drawn campaign shirts.

TU SK