Online Abuse Targeting Athletes: A Four-Year Study by World Athletics

World Athletics commissioned a four-year study to analyse online abuse targeting its athletes across four major events. The study, using AI and human analysis, examined 1.4 million posts and comments across multiple platforms, revealing persistent themes of racism, sexism, and sexualised abuse. The research identified key trends, such as the disproportionate targeting of certain athletes and the increasing use of emojis to circumvent platform rules.

Source

• Online Abuse in Athletics, World Athletics

Your Role in Managing Online Abuse

1. Education: Read the full report, stay up-to-date with trends in online abuse, and know what resources are available for athletes.
2. Communication: Talk to your athletes by having honest and open conversations about online safety.
3. Action: Encourage athletes to report abuse, support them if they do, and push for stronger protections from social media companies and governing bodies.

Find information on sport integrity and how to make a report or complaint to Athletics Australia here.