Knock Knock… Who’s There? Oh, Just Racism and Abuse on Your Social Media Feed!
Well, well, well—here we are again, folks! World Athletics has put together yet another research report that’s about as uplifting as reading the terms and conditions on a website. This time, it’s their fourth study of online abuse targeting athletes, reaching alarming levels during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Who’d have thought that the digital world would be a breeding ground for racist and sexualized abuse? I mean, just when I thought I couldn’t be any more shocked, right?
The Nitty Gritty Details:
From July 24 to August 11, 2024, a whopping 1,917 athletes were monitored across four major social platforms: X (formerly known as Twitter, because who doesn’t love a rebrand?), Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. It was like the ultimate social media big brother—12 times larger than the study during the Tokyo Olympics, because why not? If you’re going to measure abuse, make it a spectacle!
What the Numbers Say:
Hold onto your hats, as the report reveals a staggering 355,873 posts were analyzed for abuse. And guess what? A tiny 809 of those were verified as abusive! That’s a mere 0.2%—not even enough to make a solid argument for a “Most Abusive Posts” award. However, when we dive deeper, we find that a fantastic 48% of that abuse was of a racist or sexualized nature. You know, just your regular run-of-the-mill social media commentary.
The Abuse Breakdown:
- Racism: 18% (because nothing says “sportsmanship” like a healthy dose of racial slurs!)
- Sexualized Abuse: 30% (clearly some folks just can’t help themselves when it comes to inappropriate comments)
- General Abuse: 32% (this is just your classic “I disagree with your opinion” stuff, served with a side of spite.)
Interestingly, two athletes accounted for a staggering 82% of this abuse, which seems less about sports and more about personal vendettas. Perhaps they should consider changing their names—ever thought of being incognito?
A Statistically Painful Reality:
And here’s where it truly gets interesting—49% of the abuse was directed at US athletes despite them making up only 7.8% of the sampled group. It’s almost like some people revel in the idea of yelling into the digital void. If only they invested that energy into something productive, like, oh, I don’t know…learning to play nice?
According to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, “Many athletes are committed to growing the sport of athletics through their online presence…but they need to be able to do so in a safe environment.” Let’s raise a glass (or maybe a digital middle finger) to that sentiment—imagine athletes thriving online without a barrage of insults raining down upon them!
The Call to Action:
Of course, the report doesn’t just end in despair. A bold 128 abusive posts were reported to the social media platforms, and some cases were even escalated to higher authorities. Bravo! Here’s a standing ovation for doing the bare minimum in fighting online abuse.
Final Thoughts:
So, what’s the takeaway, dear readers? With a four-year longitudinal study promising solutions to this colorful mess, we might just see some substantial changes in the treatment of athletes online. Athletes deserve a platform where they can interact with their fans without fear of being verbally assaulted. Here’s hoping this report leads to more effective measures and not just another round of “Isn’t this terrible?” tweets.
In the meantime, let’s keep the phones on silent, the keyboards clean, and remember that behind those shiny profiles are real people who deserve a bit more than abuse in their comment sections. Now go ahead and tweet that!
Cheers to a kinder digital landscape!
This piece is crafted to engage readers while raising awareness about the serious issue of online abuse against athletes. It’s lively, cheeky, and packed with observations that encourage reflection on the topic.
Fourth major study into online abuse raises concerns over continued levels of abuse of a racist or sexual nature
Key findings:
• Racism and sexualised abuse continue to be used to target athletes, making up more than 48% of the results
• 809 total posts were verified as abusive, with 128 posts and comments (16%) escalated to the relevant platform for additional action
• 1,917 athletes with at least one active account were monitored for online abuse during the Paris Games across four social media platforms – 12 times the size sampled during the Tokyo Olympics
As World Mental Health Month draws to a close, World Athletics today (31 October) publishes findings from a comprehensive study conducted during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games aimed at identifying and safeguarding athletes from harmful messages transmitted via social media platforms.
The research, marking the fourth of its kind over four years, builds on previous studies covering significant global athletics events including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships, showcasing a growing commitment to understanding the impact of online abuse.
The study was carried out in partnership with Signify Group, utilizing its advanced Threat Matrix service, which employs artificial intelligence and human analysis to scrutinize online harassment faced by athletes. This year’s report highlights fresh data while a more exhaustive four-year analysis is set to be released later this year.
Building on several initiatives to enhance safeguarding measures in athletics, including mandatory policies at the Member Federation level, the study closely monitored the social media accounts of 1,917 athletes, reserves, and officials throughout the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (from 24 July to 11 August 2024), alongside the critical 24 hours before and following the Games’ commencement and conclusion. Notably, this represents a significant growth in sample size, being 12 times larger than the research conducted during the Tokyo 2020 Games.
A staggering total of 355,873 posts and comments were captured and meticulously analyzed for abusive content across 36 languages and dialects, with 34,040 posts flagged by the Threat Matrix AI algorithm for further human review. These athletes were active on four prominent social media platforms: X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Of these interactions, a total of 809 posts were confirmed as abusive.
Racism (18%) and sexualised abuse (30%) remain the predominant forms of online harassment, collectively constituting over 48% of the total abusive content identified, while general abuse accounts for 32% of the total detected occurrences.
Remarkably, two athletes faced an overwhelming amount of targeted abuse, which represented 82% of all verified abusive incidents directed towards athletes. Notably, US athletes endured nearly half (49%) of all recorded abuse, despite making up just 7.8% of the athletes involved in the study.
Racism was the most alarming category of abuse directed at male athletes, constituting 26% of total recorded incidents, while female athletes experienced a troubling mix of sexual and sexist abuse, with almost half (49%) of the abusive content categorized broadly as general abuse.
“It is no secret that social media abuse towards athletes can have a devastating impact on their mental health as well as their performance,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe of the study findings, underscoring the profound implications of online harassment on athletes.
“Having a social media presence is important for many athletes because it enables them to connect with their fans, as well as deliver on endorsement commitments. Many athletes are committed to growing the sport of athletics through their online presence, but they need to be able to do so in a safe environment. We are proud of many of our athletes who use their platform to raise awareness on important issues, including speaking out about online abuse and its impact on mental health.”
“We will continue our work in this space and use our research to help drive positive change, both with platforms and in developing resources for athletes around their mental health.”
In total, 128 abusive posts and comments were reported to social media platforms on behalf of the affected athletes, with two severe cases escalated to higher authorities, reinforcing the critical nature of the collaborative efforts by World Athletics and Signify Group to shield athletes from online abuse alongside evolving support from various platforms.
Previous research served to inform crucial World Athletics initiatives rolled out during the Paris Olympics, including educational materials emphasizing safety tools from platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Moreover, proactive measures employing AI software were provided to ‘at-risk-athletes’, with strong evidence indicating that implementing preventative strategies for those already targeted could lead to beneficial outcomes.
While this report focuses on the findings from the Paris Olympic Games, the forthcoming four-year report encompassing four major global athletics events will shed light on developments throughout this timeframe. It will outline strategic measures that World Athletics plans to adopt, along with valuable insights that this research will impart to specialists in athlete welfare and mental health, aimed at establishing more effective support systems against online abuse.
World Athletics
* General Abuse definition: Content flagged as abusive in nature but does not contain discriminatory language relating to a specific category.
Es in how we protect athletes from online harassment and ensure they can engage with fans in a safe environment.”
Conclusion:
The findings from this latest report on online abuse are both revealing and troubling. It underscores the urgent need for stronger protective measures for athletes across all social media platforms. As we navigate this digital age, it’s crucial to remember that behind every post is a real individual who deserves respect and support. It’s time for social media companies and fans alike to foster a kinder and more respectful online atmosphere. Through awareness, education, and accountability, we can create a space where athletes can thrive without the threat of abuse. Let’s work together to make the digital world a better place for everyone.
Let’s Take Action:
Engage in meaningful discussions, create awareness, and promote positive online interactions. Together, we can help diminish online abuse and celebrate the achievements and efforts of athletes worldwide. Remember, kindness is just a click away!
