Gatekeeping

Gatekeeping means making up rules or reasons to decide who’s allowed into a special group and who’s not. 

Imagine a club where one person says you can only join if you know a secret handshake. That’s a bit like gatekeeping.

Gatekeeping happens when someone acts like they’re in charge of who gets to be part of something, like a hobby, group, or even a fan club. They might act like they’re the boss and tell others they’re not “real” fans or members.

Think about a friend who really likes a type of music. They might tell you that you can’t be a fan unless you know every song by heart. That’s a way of gatekeeping. It can make new people feel like they’re not welcome and stop them from joining in.

This gatekeeping stuff can happen on the internet too. Some folks act like they’re experts and say others don’t know enough to be part of a conversation. For example, if you’re talking about a game and someone says you can’t discuss it because you haven’t played all the versions, that’s gatekeeping.

While gatekeeping might seem like keeping things special, it can also make people feel left out and make communities less friendly. It’s important to remember that everyone’s thoughts and opinions count, and we should try to include everyone instead of keeping them out.