Real Madrid goalkeeper in April 2021, bulk rodriguezhad to delete a tweet with a photo with a player of the men’s team Marco Asensio. The number of sexist attacks she received for her was huge. In the same month, two Liverpool players, Trent Alexander Arnold y near KeitaAfter losing against the white team, they became victims of racist abuse on the nets. Through protest, the Welsh club Swan Sea and its players decided to delete all their accounts for a few days.
But they weren’t the only ones victims this in recent years. Football players freed from dealing with character attacks sexist, homophobic or racist in stadiums it has to do in nets as well. A harmful practice that extends to other sports.
Therefore A-Leagues Australia just launched software Using machine learning technology to prevent players and their thousands of followers from seeing any malicious comments on the networks. This is the first time something like this is used in the world.
Artificial intelligence
This automatic filter from the British tech company GoBubble Community It works on the accounts of every player and club in both men’s and women’s competitions.
“Machine learning artificial intelligence (IA) GoBubble’s software can scan social media content for words, expressions, symbols, images and emojis in 21 known offensive languages, and the software blocks these posts and comments. All this is about millionth of a second. The person who sends the content does not lose his freedom of expression as his comments or publications do not disappear from their channel”, he explains to EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA, a newspaper belonging to the same publishing group as this channel, Henry PlatterCo-founder of GoBubble.
The software searches and blocks words, phrases, symbols, images, and emojis in 21 languages that are known to be offensive.
In this way, “abusive, derogatory, harmful or offensive content, hidden from our clients’ social media channels, clubs, players or governing bodies and federations,” Platten continues. Therefore, neither the people mentioned nor many followers who might be affected see this.
hate crimes
Because the problem with such a message is that it is not only offensive to the recipient, but offensive to the hundreds (in some cases, thousands) of followers who may be challenged. “Social networks in the world of sports, double effect. “While they serve as a great speaker, they also serve as a reference element to both condemn and correct behavior,” he says. Maria Jose LopezCo-director of the Legal Department Spanish Footballers Association (AFE).
In recent years, the Standing Commission of the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport has analyzed various incidents in stadiums and recommended that disciplinary investigations be opened. But in social networks, everything works differently. But López said, “It’s okay for us to be very tough and those who fight against such protests.
We have to be very tough and warlike against this kind of manifestation of hatred.
They will hold a session with representatives of the Civil Guard at the AFE the week of April 28, psychologists y ONG Knowing how to avoid these situations and how to act. “If these occur, the first thing to do is to notify the social network itself so that they can be removed immediately, as they cannot contribute to the spread of a criminal act,” he explains.
These companies are also responsible because abusive messages, when directed at a person for reasons such as their race, national or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, may include, among others: hate crime. In such a situation, the AFE Legal Department co-director continues, “State security forces and bodies, both the Police and the Civil Guard, may be informed so that they can investigate who committed this behavior.”
Glance
Of course, many use anonymity to insult them, which makes them harder to report. After several events in April 2021, British men’s and women’s clubs supported the boycott of Swansea. They have chosen to deactivate all of their accounts from 3:00 PM on April 30 to 11:59 PM on Monday, May 3. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They believed social media companies should quickly block or remove offensive posts, according to a joint statement with other football organizations.
“With the millions of revenues they have, the platforms themselves should have their own control over any abuses and banaar HE sanction these accounts. I think they do, but to a very small extent compared to what they can do.” Javier Antuna Fernandezsports psychologist.
The platforms themselves should exercise their own control over abuse and ban or penalize those accounts.
Youth
This professional says, “athletes place great emphasis on common sense, especially as they rise in their careers; when they take this step towards the elite”. They tend to be younger, he says, in age. less mature. “In the example of football players, which is the sport in which abuse is most common, 16 and 22 years They’re starting to loosen up a little. But they have less tools to manage outside noise,” he says.
That’s why, last January, Liverpool became the first club to sign into the Premier League. advisor mental health to protect young players from these online attacks.
Such abusive messages are also self-confident. They usually come after underperformance, Antuña explains. If these comments are added, it increases the athlete’s own feeling. impotence, low confidence; not believing that you can handle the situation.
Another problem this psychologist finds is that many find it difficult to separate their sports life from their private life. “Many of the people I work with and at a high level think that the value they show in competitions is the value they have. personalities. It is seen a lot in sports retirements of elite athletes,” he said. This makes it feel like the criticism is directed at the person rather than the figure of the athlete.
Remove RRSS?
For some, the solution is to either just use social networks as a community manageror turn it off. Sports psychologist and trainer Francesc Porta points out that these serve to promote personal branding. That’s why he thinks it’s a “harm” to pinch them in the bud.
“I work with athletes who are affected by these messages. I always tell them the same thing: digital reality and set a goal. See what you wanted this social network for, why you opened it, and start building that brand from there,” he says.
Working with all kinds of athletes from various disciplines, Porta explains that more and more young people have come to her since the pandemic. “The upside is that they support each other when they need help and are free of the mental health stigma, but on the other hand, the competition is getting more and more intimidating. There is more respect,” he says.
Young athletes now support each other when they need help and are broken by the mental health stigma.
Everyone agrees that it is necessary more participation against harassment and less anonymity by social media companies. The measure of the implementation of GoBubble software will help, and the company assures that it is in contact with several countries, although for privacy reasons it is not clear whether Spain is one of them.
Currently, the Adelaide United star, Josh Cavallohailed the move as a “game changer” in Australia. He is openly gay and has previously criticized Facebook and Instagram for not doing enough to stop this online harassment. In his case they had reached death threats. Now she hopes everything is over.