In the ongoing efforts to tackle online trolling and abuse, Rugby Australia has taken a pioneering step by becoming the first national sporting body in Australia to offer a social media protection service to all its participants.
Through a partnership with Social Protect, an AI-driven mobile application, harmful social media comments will be automatically detected and removed in real time. This service is available to all clubs, staff, volunteers, and participants, covering everyone from elite athletes to grassroots players.
This initiative aims to shield the Australian rugby community from online harassment, including distressing comments that may involve racist or offensive language on a user’s social media profile, posts, or pages.
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Lukhan Salakaia-Loto of the Wallabies makes a break during last year’s Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match against the New Zealand All Blacks. Getty
Cyberbullying and trolling continue to pose major challenges in Australian sports, with athletes, referees, and coaches frequently facing online abuse that includes personal attacks, hate speech, sexual harassment, and racism.
While some codes are making strides to proactively mitigate online harm, monitoring and reporting social media comments largely fall on elite athletes.
This announcement comes amidst increasing calls from public figures to confront harassment and inappropriate behaviour on social media, particularly regarding hateful comments and direct messages.
During a two-month trial involving Rugby Australia’s national team social media accounts, Social Protect identified and quarantined over 1500 comments.
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In April 2024, an Australian rugby fan faced legal action for sending threatening and abusive messages to Irish television match official Brian MacNeice and his family via Facebook during England’s pool-stage victory over Samoa at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
This marked a landmark decision by World Rugby, showcasing its dedication to holding online abusers accountable for their conduct.
Phil Waugh, CEO of Rugby Australia, believes that partnering with Social Protect will establish a new benchmark for how sport can effectively address online trolling and abuse by actively reducing its visibility.
“This innovative partnership marks a significant advancement in Rugby Australia’s dedication to fostering a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved in our sport—from the Wallabies and Wallaroos to grassroots players, volunteers, and referees,” he stated.
“By making this app available throughout the entire rugby community, we’re proud to lead the charge in Australian sport and send a clear message that abuse and harassment—both online and offline—are unacceptable in rugby.”
Shane Britten, Founder and CEO of Social Protect, expressed that Rugby Australia’s comprehensive rollout signifies a clear commitment to participant safety beyond just the playing field.
Regarding the app’s use within the Australian rugby community, while individual users maintain control of their social media accounts, comments removed by Social Protect are logged in an admin portal available for Rugby Australia to address legal and policy enforcement needs.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
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