By EMILY CLARK/Contributor
Social media connects people from across the globe but it’s also a platform on which college athletes increasingly are subjected to harmful and abusive messages.
A recent NCAA study found that a staggering number of college athletes face online harassment as the target of posts containing discriminatory, demeaning or threatening language.
UT Tyler athletes are no strangers to cyber bullying. Sid Cleofe, a junior midfielder on the soccer team, says inappropriate online comments affect athletes.
“These greatly impact the confidence (of athletes) on the field,” Cleofe said, noting that online criticism can contribute to athletes “continuing to make mistake after mistake.”
Worse yet, “after hearing constant comments on the way you play, they could fall into depressive moments,” he continued.
THE FINDINGS
Last year, the NCAA and an analytical partner identified 72,000 social media messages targeting Division I athletes, coaches and officials that were deemed inappropriate. More than 5,000 posts contained abusive, discriminatory or threatening content. The study revealed:
- 18% of the abusive posts were sexual in nature, making it the most prevalent type of abuse targeting student-athletes;
- 10% were racist;
- 9% were homophobic/transphobic;
- 6% involved threats of violence.
Forty-four percent of student-athletes surveyed reported they had received abusive content on their social media accounts.
Inappropriate posts flagged in the NCAA online threat initiative. Courtesy NCAA.
REACTION
“I’ve heard too many student-athletes talk about abusive messages they have received, and for the first time ever, we now have evidence of the scale at which this is occurring,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a news release announcing the findings.
The report found that online harassment – especially when it is ongoing — can negatively impact an athlete’s mental health and well-being. One student-athlete received more than 1,400 abusive messages in less than two weeks, researchers said.
Cleofe said cyber bullies often blame a team’s loss on one athlete.
“There are certain posts and comments made on social media by anonymous accounts that practically bash someone for making a mistake in a game and leading to a loss,” he said. “This affects their (athletes’) mental state.”
Freshman soccer player Caden Nazier is also all too aware of the abuse athletes face.
“I have seen many college athletes (that were) posted and slandered or posted inappropriately due to a mix of social media mishaps, media sensationalism, intense rivalries, and misinformation,” Naizer said. “There have been multiple messages I have seen that contain hostile comments about their performance in their games.”
DEALING WITH ONLINE ABUSE
Athletes react to inappropriate posts in various ways.
“But from what I’ve seen the most, this kills their confidence and sends them into a state of isolation, Naizer said. “This usually puts them in a very sad and hard position.”
Brooke Mullins, a junior and forward on the soccer team, said that while the messages can be hurtful, athletes often try to ignore them.
Soccer player Brooke Williams speaks out about online abuse student athletes sometimes face.
“They’re not going to go out on social media and counteract these things just because it’s not smart and good for their image,” Mullins said.
The NCAA’s recommendations for athletes to protect themselves online include using privacy settings on their social media accounts, blocking people who post inappropriate comments and reporting harmful postings.
The NCAA is advising student athletes who are targets of cyberbullying to seek support from coaches and mental health professionals.
Naizer said athletes are also relying on their teammates and support systems to help them handle the emotional toll.
“Having a strong support group makes a huge difference,” he said. “It helps when seeking support from family and teammates.”
TIME FOR CHANGE
The report, which is the first of its kind to investigate online harassment of college athletes, has raised concerns. The NCAA is calling for social media platforms to take a more active role in stopping abuse and protecting athletes from online harassment.
“Fans have to do better, social media companies have to do more to identify and remove this content, and we all need reminders about responsible social media usage,” Baker said in the news release. “We will exhaust all options to reduce the harassment and vitriol student-athletes are experiencing too often today.”
Cleofe is among athletes who hope that increased awareness of online abuse will lead to positive change.
“I hope people start realizing that athletes are humans too,” he said. “We put in the work, just like everyone else. Athletes aren’t just there for entertainment.”
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