Social media abuse against women athletes refers to the harassment, discrimination, and threats directed at women participating in sport through social-networking platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and others. The abuse often includes sexist comments, sexual harassment, misogynistic insults, body-shaming, racist or homophobic slurs, and, in severe cases, rape or death threats. Researchers, sporting organizations, and athletes have identified online abuse as a systemic issue that disproportionately affects women in sport and contributes to psychological harm, reputational risks, and reduced participation in athletic environments.
The growth of women's sport over the 21st century has increased athlete visibility across mainstream media and digital platforms. At the same time, social media has become a primary channel for direct interaction between athletes and the public. Although these platforms offer promotional and commercial opportunities, they also expose athletes to unprecedented levels of unfiltered and often anonymous harassment. Studies from sport-governing bodies, academic institutions, and online-safety organizations consistently report higher rates of digital abuse targeting women compared with their male counterparts.[1][2][3]
A 2023 cross-university study analyzing official TikTok videos of major men's football clubs found that every post featuring women players attracted sexist comments, many using aggressive misogynistic language.[4]
Another analysis of 417 TikTok videos and more than 59,000 comments reported widespread sexualized and misogynistic remarks directed toward women players.[1]
Forms of abuse
Online abuse directed at women athletes commonly includes:
Sexism and misogyny
Comments questioning women's involvement in sport, belittling their achievements, or reinforcing gender stereotypes remain widespread. Women athletes may be judged more on appearance than performance, leading to disproportionate scrutiny of their bodies, clothing, and behavior.[1]
Sexual harassment
Women frequently receive unsolicited sexual comments, objectification, explicit content, and, in extreme cases, rape threats. Sexualized abuse tends to spike after high-visibility events such as national tournaments, international competitions, and televised matches.[1]
Racism and intersectional abuse
Women of color, LGBTQ+ athletes, and athletes with intersecting marginalized identities experience multiple layers of abuse. Studies show that racialized women athletes are targeted with both sexist and racist slurs, often at higher rates than white peers.[1]
Threats and intimidation
Some athletes report receiving death threats, threats of physical violence, or doxing attempts. These forms of abuse may lead to police reports, increased security measures, and psychological distress.[1][5]
Research and studies
Academic research has found that a majority of elite and semi-professional women athletes experience gendered online harm, with some studies reporting rates as high as 87%.[3][6]
World Athletics studies during major championships (including the Tokyo Olympics and subsequent events) reported women receiving the majority of abusive messages detected by monitoring systems.[7]
Sport-governing bodies, including the NCAA and national football associations, have published reports showing that players and coaches in female leagues receive disproportionately high levels of abuse compared to male leagues.[2]
Independent investigations and journalism, such as BBC Sport reports, have documented More than 2,000 extremely abusive social media posts on the weekend of 8 and 9 November. Posts include racist, sexist, and violent threats.[8]
Impact on athletes
Mental health
Exposure to persistent harassment is linked to anxiety, stress, depression, and reduced self-confidence. Athletes often report limiting their online engagement due to abuse, affecting fan interaction and sponsorship opportunities.[6]
Performance and career implications
Online abuse can damage an athletes public reputation, reduce commercial partnerships, and increase pressure during competition. Some athletes describe needing psychological support or digital-media teams to manage online hostility.
Responses and prevention
Athlete-led strategies
Athletes often use filtering tools, limit comment access, or work with digital-media teams to manage their accounts. Some maintain private accounts to separate personal and public engagement.[9][8][10]
Sports organizations
Clubs, leagues, and federations have begun implementing safeguarding policies, digital monitoring systems, and educational programs. Anti-abuse protocols may include:[8]
real-time monitoring during major events.
reporting pathways.
mental-health support.
coordination with law-enforcement authorities.
Technology and moderation
Anti-abuse technology firms partner with leagues to identify abusive posts, flag threats, and remove harmful content. However, critics argue that major platforms inconsistently enforce their own policies, leaving many abusive messages online.[8]
Legal measures
Some jurisdictions prosecute severe harassment under laws addressing threats, stalking, or hate speech.[8]
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