Latest news with #socialmediaabuse
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Study shows less online abuse of athletes during March Madness
June 11 - The NCAA recently released a study that indicated a decrease in social media abuse targeting student-athletes, including from sports bettors, during March Madness. According to the study, athletes were targeted in 15 percent of March Madness-related abusive posts and comments flagged by data science firm Signify Group during the 2025 men's and women's tournaments. That was a significant drop from the previous year's tournaments, when 42 percent of March Madness-spawned abusive posts and comments were directed at student-athletes. Per the NCAA's report, Signify Group gleaned this year's data by using its "Threat Matrix" technology to monitor the social-media accounts of 2,042 players, 346 coaches, 136 teams and 269 game officials and selection committee members. More than 1 million posts and comments directed at these groups on X, TikTok and Instagram were logged and analyzed by Signify's artificial intelligence. That led to 54,096 posts and comments being flagged for potential abuse or threat. Of those, Signify's human analysts confirmed 3,161 as "abusive or threatening." Signify investigated 103 social media accounts for their malicious activity and referred 10 of them to law enforcement. "By supporting the NCAA in demonstrating that abusers can be identified and will be reported to law enforcement -- where criminal thresholds are broken -- it is possible to see a deterrent effect in play," Jonathan Hirshler, Signify Group's CEO, said in a statement. Other findings from the study: Abuse stemming from sports bettors decreased by 23 percent, all abuse directed at those on the women's March Madness side dropped approximately 83 percent and all abuse directed at those on the men's side increased by 140 percent. While the 140 percent increase in men's tournament total abuse and the significant drop in abuse directed at student-athletes overall might not appear to jibe, the difference is in the sharp increase of this year's abuse being directed at adults -- such as coaches and the NCAA Tournament selection committee chaired by North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham. --Field Level Media
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Maroons star's wife calls out disgusting social media abuse
The NRL world is rallying around Queensland Maroons skipper Ali Brigginshaw after her partner Kate revealed the vile social media abuse that had been sent their way. Brigginshaw and the Maroons find themselves down 2-0 in the State of Origin series with the Blues looking for a clean sweep next week at McDonald Jones Stadium. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. But in the wake of the second contest, when the Blues prevailed 26-6 at Allianz Stadium, Kate revealed the family had been targeted by horrific online abuse. Taking to Instagram she exposed the extent to which some messages had gone with one telling the family to 'kill themselves'. 'Mental health affects everyone, in particular athletes,' she wrote. 'Anyone in the public eye is aware they open themselves up to opinion and scrutiny, however there is a fine line between a reasonable comment/dm and what is honestly far beyond anything even remotely reasonable, which is what Ali and our family have been subjected to for the last month. 'Bashing people on social media isn't cool. 'You think you're showing something bad about someone else when you're really showing something bad about yourself. 'Normal people don't go around vomiting hate about individuals they know absolutely nothing about, or send derogatory, sexist or cruel dms encouraging someone to kill themselves. 'Ironically, the same people showing support for MH (mental health) awareness and 'it ain't weak to speak' are the same people leaving comments and sending those disgusting dms. 'It is incredibly damaging and dangerous and I seriously encourage all those who do participate to think before leaving a comment or sending a dm about whether they would say those things to someone they loved.' Kate's post attracted heavy support from those across the NRL community with fans rushing to throw their arms around the family. One wrote on X: 'The absolute gutless dogs who are threatening Ali Brigginshaw (or indeed anyone) online need to get the book thrown at them.' A second added: 'You could not meet a nicer person than Ali Brigginshaw. A true Queenslander, one who should be respected and not abused by cowards.' A third posted: 'It's one thing to comment about her playing ability or career moves. It's a totally different thing to comment on her personal life or her as a person. That goes for any human on the planet. Ali has done more for international women's sport than any bloke in this comment section who probably have daughters that see her as a role model.' Brigginshaw has been a stalwart of the Maroons' State of Origin squad since making her debut back in 2018. Throughout an illustrious career, the 35-year-old has pulled on the Queensland jersey 11 times while also playing 25 Tests for Australia. The NRLW icon will be hoping to go out on top and avoid a clean sweep when the two states lock horns next week. While there was concern she might miss out on selection for the third and final game of the series, selectors elected to give the veteran a shot at an Origin swan song. The third State of Origin contest will take place on May 29 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle from 7:45pm (AEST).
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Arsenal slashed social media abuse of their stars by 90 PER CENT: Using AI to hunt down trolls, targeting frustrated gamblers and how it helps them win on the pitch too
While Arsenal 's season has been marked by consistency on the pitch as they fell just short of glory for a third season running, one off-field matter in particular has united their players and staff. Kai Havertz and his pregnant wife Sophia were targeted with horrific social media abuse after the Gunners' penalty shootout defeat by Manchester United in the third-round in January.
