How online abuse affects athletes’ mental health and what we can do about it
by Nandan Saraf
According to a recent report commissioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), social media abuse aimed at athletes has been on the rise in recent years, with nearly one-third of the posts targeted towards athletes containing negative content.1 Research has shown that this online abuse towards the athletes can have long-lasting effects on them, potentially leading to mental health issues, lower performance, and even withdrawal from the sport. A survey by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and United Against Online Abuse (UAOA), a coalition to stop hate speech in sports, shows that 90% of federations believe that athletes may quit due to online abuse.2
Beyond athletes, fans and officials also frequently face online abuse. Comment sections on social media platforms and forums become breeding grounds for hate speech, and this toxic environment makes fans reluctant to participate actively. Arwin.AI, a startup specialising in using artificial intelligence to automatically detect and remove online hate from social platforms, found that 67% of social media users are less inclined to interact with online content when they perceive it as unsafe.3
What can be done to combat online abuse
To tackle online abuse and ensure that athletes and fans feel safe and respected online, UAOA has brought together various organisations, including governing bodies, athlete support groups, anti-hate speech initiatives, and social media platforms. This collaborative effort aims to raise awareness, promote education and training, advocate for policy changes, collaborate with platforms, and provide support for the victims.4 This proactive stance by major sports bodies is what is needed to counter online abuse.
To combat hate speech, a clear and consistent approach to consequences is crucial. When individuals hiding behind the anonymity of the internet understand that their actions have real repercussions, a positive change can happen.5 This not only discourages future instances of hate speech but also sends a strong message that such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Holding individuals accountable can foster a more inclusive and respectful environment for all participants and spectators in sports.
People often listen to their heroes, especially within the sports community. Having an influential figure take a stance can help raise awareness and address the issue of online abuse effectively.6 For example, in July 2022, following racist, homophobic abuse as well as sexual harassment during the Austrian Grand Prix, Formula 1 launched the “Drive It Out” campaign to combat fan and online abuse. Formula 1 released a joint video featuring all 20 drivers, calling on fans to “drive out” abuse of all kinds.7
Online abuse during the Olympics
The Olympic Games, with their vast global audience, can amplify the issues of online abuse. During the Olympics every performance, action, and perceived misstep is scrutinised and this can lay the ground for online negativity.
Online abuse disproportionately affects women, and particularly women of colour. Research published by World Athletics found that during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games 87% of abuse was aimed at women. 63% of abuse was targeted towards 2 female athletes who were both black.8 Sexist and racist abuse were the most frequent categories of online abuse during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.8
How Paris 2024 aims to tackle online abuse through AI
“Sport and social media are inextricably linked. At Paris 2024, we are expecting around half a billion social media posts,” explained Kristy Burrows, Head of the Safe Sport Unit at IOC.9 A new AI system will be used during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 to protect athletes from online abuse. The use of AI aims to provide a safe space to vast number of athletes competing across multiple sports. The AI system will continuously monitor thousands of social media accounts across major platforms and in over 35 languages in real time. Any potential threats will be detected, and they will be highlighted to the social media platforms for prompt action, with a goal of removing abusive posts before the athletes catch sight of them.9
In an interview with the Huffington Post Burrows highlights that 70% of Olympians participate in the games just once. The IOC’s measures aim to allow athletes to fully immerse themselves in this once-in-a-lifetime experience without worrying about online abuse.10 If athletes, fans, and officials are not protected from online abuse, the future of sports faces serious risks. The stakes are high, and immediate action is crucial.
4. https://unitedagainstonlineabuse.com/mission/
6. https://www.fieldfisher.com/en/insights/between-the-posts-tackling-social-media-abuse-in-sport
8. https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/online-abuse-study-athletes-tokyo-olympic-games
9. https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ai-system-to-protect-athletes-from-online-abuse-during-paris-2024
10. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/olympics-online-abuse-ai-2024_uk_668e5892e4b0c45d1910c96c