NCAA Urges Action Against Online Harassment Amid Alarming Spike During March Madness

In a startling revelation from a recent study, the NCAA has urged fans and social media platforms to take a stand against online harassment, particularly highlighting a significant spike during the NCAA March Madness tournament. The report found that female basketball players faced nearly three times the number of threats compared to their male counterparts. This alarming trend was not isolated to basketball alone; issues were also noted during volleyball and gymnastics championships.

The comprehensive analysis reviewed over 5,000 social media posts, identifying abusive, discriminatory, or threatening content aimed at more than 3,000 athletes, coaches, and officials across various sports. The findings show that 18 percent of these posts were categorized as sexual abuse, while 17 percent were labeled as “general abuse,” and 14 percent dealt with sexism. Other forms of abuse included racism, homophobia, and content linked to sports betting, which was noted as a growing concern, especially as betting markets expand.

NCAA President Charlie Baker expressed his deep concern, stating, “It’s incredibly alarming and completely unacceptable.” He stressed the necessity for fans to improve their online conduct and for social media companies to enhance their efforts in identifying and eliminating harmful content.

In a collaboration with the data and AI firm Signify Group, researchers uncovered a pattern relating to the impact of online harassment on athletes’ mental health. Reports have shown that some student-athletes, like LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, have felt compelled to change their lifestyles, including avoiding in-person classes due to safety issues related to online threats.

The NCAA has mandated that Division I schools provide mental health counseling to student-athletes as part of a broader initiative to address these pressing issues. Coaches, like Purdue’s Matt Painter, have called on social media companies to step up their game in making platforms safer for all users.

As harassment issues intensify with the rise of sports betting, lawmakers are being called upon to consider the implications of online gambling on athlete safety. With politicians battling over how to regulate online hate effectively, the fight against online harassment in sports is far from over.