bbc.com
Lionesses Avoid Social Media to Combat Online Abuse
England's Lionesses are prioritizing mental health during the upcoming European Championship, with several players opting to stay off social media to avoid online abuse, following similar actions from other female athletes who have experienced both performance-related and unrelated harassment.
- What strategies are England's Lionesses employing to cope with the pervasive issue of online abuse during major tournaments?
- England Lionesses players, including Alessia Russo, are avoiding social media during major tournaments due to the damaging effects of online abuse. Many players have experienced abuse, even unrelated to their performance, affecting both their well-being and their families. This strategy prioritizes focus and mental health.
- How does the experience of online abuse among female athletes, such as the Lionesses, reflect broader societal issues related to gender and online harassment?
- The prevalence of online abuse faced by female athletes like Russo highlights the toxic environment they encounter. This impacts their mental health and their teams, necessitating strategies to mitigate the issue such as social media avoidance. This abuse often extends beyond performance-based criticism, indicating a more systemic problem.
- What long-term impacts could the Lionesses' approach to managing online abuse have on the culture of women's professional sports and mental health support systems within teams?
- The Lionesses' proactive approach to managing online abuse could set a positive precedent for other teams. By openly discussing their experiences and supporting each other, they may help normalize seeking strategies for dealing with online harassment, ultimately promoting better mental health in professional sports. This could lead to more robust support systems within team structures.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing centers on the negative experiences of female athletes with social media abuse. While this is important, the framing could be broadened to include a more balanced perspective, exploring both the challenges and potential benefits of social media for athletes. The headline itself could benefit from being less focused on the negativity and incorporate other aspects of the story.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral, accurately reflecting the athletes' statements. However, words like "damaging," "toxic," and "horrible" are used repeatedly, which, while accurate to the athletes' feelings, subtly reinforces a negative framing of social media. More neutral alternatives could be used occasionally, to offer a more balanced perspective.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the negative impacts of social media abuse on female athletes, but it omits discussion of potential positive aspects of social media, such as fan engagement and community building. It also doesn't explore preventative measures social media platforms could take to curb abuse.
Gender Bias
The article focuses exclusively on the experiences of female athletes. While this is relevant given the context, a comparison with how male athletes handle social media abuse would provide a richer understanding of the issue and whether there are gendered differences in the experience and severity of abuse.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the negative impact of online abuse on female athletes, advocating for a safer online environment. Addressing online abuse is crucial for gender equality, as it disproportionately affects women and contributes to a hostile environment that limits their participation and success in sports. The players' proactive steps to manage their online presence and support each other demonstrate positive action towards creating a more equitable and respectful environment for women in sports.