IT was a quiet weekend for sport, not in terms of playing it, but in terms of the use of social media to get the message out on the various platforms many athletes and sports use to promote their activities.
Historically, these platforms have been of huge benefit for many different reasons. Top athletes can talk directly to their supporters; clubs and organisations can use their social media statistics to impress and engage a sponsor; and for those who perhaps don’t command attention from the traditional media, it gives them an outlet to promote their grassroots work that keeps the community involved. However, let me ask you a question. When browsing through your paper, reading the various articles, and you come across one you don’t agree with – what do you do?
Do you track down the person who wrote it; make it your job to go and find out where they live; start spouting vile and vicious threats; or use abusive and derogatory language, with absolutely no filter in place?
This is not the action of any responsible supporter, but some believe this is acceptable behaviour when online. So from Friday until one minute before midnight tonight, sporting organisations across the UK came together to impose a social media blackout of their channels.
Scottish Women in Sport was more than happy to support their stance.
We need to have those in authority who run these platforms to sit up and take notice and understand the impact these shameful keyboard activists have on the mental health and wellbeing of their unfortunate targets.
There is no doubt there are many benefits to social media, and these benefits extend to the companies themselves, so it is in their own interest to ensure strong and quick action is taken against those who abuse the privilege of being able to interact with many of our sporting icons.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that security systems can be incorporated into these platforms that can track, monitor and take direct action with the perpetrators.
If all sports can come together, collectively highlighting the issue, the social media moguls can do the same, and come up with a solution.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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