<![CDATA[The rapid growth of online gaming has transformed the Lobby Chat feature into a digital public sphere where users communicate, exchange information, and establish social relationships. Nevertheless, the openness of this communication space has also facilitated various forms of communication ethics violations. This study aims to analyze communication ethics violations within the Lobby Chat feature of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang from the perspective of the digital public sphere. A qualitative approach with a descriptive case study design was employed. Data were collected through non-participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation, and analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The findings reveal recurring violations of communication ethics, including careless message delivery, conflict-provoking content, inadequate privacy awareness, impolite language, and inappropriate responses to negative interactions. These practices are driven by limited digital literacy, weak emotional self-regulation, competitive gaming culture, and insufficient platform moderation. The study extends the application of the digital public sphere framework to online gaming by demonstrating that communication ethics are shaped through the interaction of individual behavior, institutional support, and platform governance. Strengthening digital literacy, character education, and adaptive moderation mechanisms is essential to fostering a safer, more inclusive, and ethically responsible digital communication environment. ]]>
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