Online Abuse Trends During March Madness

A study released by the NCAA on Tuesday highlighted a significant decrease in social media abuse targeting student-athletes during the March Madness basketball tournaments. According to data from Signify Group, athletes were the subject of only 15% of flagged abusive posts this year, down from 42% in the previous year. Notably, sports betting-related abuse also saw a 23% decline.

Surge in Harassment Towards Officials and Coaches

While the overall abuse towards players decreased, there was a notable spike in harassment directed at tournament officials and coaches. The men's tournament, in particular, experienced a 140% increase in such incidents. Much of this abuse was aimed at the selection committee and coaches, especially concerning controversial decisions about team selections and coaching changes.

Key Findings

• Athletes: Targeted in 15% of flagged abuse, down from 42% last year.
• Sports Betting-Related Abuse: Decreased by 23%.
• Officials and Coaches: Saw a significant increase in harassment, especially in the men's tournament.

Efforts to Combat Online Abuse

The NCAA has been proactive in addressing this issue. NCAA president Charlie Baker has prioritized combating sports betting-related harassment and is advocating for state bans on prop bets involving individual college players. The NCAA's "Don't Be a Loser" anti-harassment campaign, which ran during the tournaments, is credited with contributing to the decrease in abuse.

Technological Interventions

Signify Group employed artificial intelligence to monitor over a million comments on platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok. They flagged 3,161 posts as abusive or threatening and reported them to the relevant social media platforms. Additionally, 10 cases were referred to law enforcement.

Personal Impact on Athletes

Mississippi State forward Chandler Prater shared her experience of receiving racial slurs and abusive messages on Instagram after a game. She emphasized the emotional toll such abuse takes on athletes and encouraged others to know they are not alone.

Quotes

• Clint Hangebrauck, NCAA: "We don't want abuse to be directed at anybody, but mature adults can hopefully handle these situations better."
• Chandler Prater: "Online abuse impacts the athlete behind the screen and the athlete in the jersey. We are humans with feelings and emotions."

Conclusion

While the decrease in abuse towards student-athletes is a positive development, the rise in harassment of officials and coaches highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining a respectful online environment during high-stakes sports events. The NCAA continues to push for stronger measures to protect all participants from online abuse.