Teenage figure skaters, some as young as 13, are facing a rise in abusive comments on social media platforms, according to Evan Bates, an Olympic gold medalist. Bates expressed concern that certain individuals are fostering “toxic atmospheres” around live-streamed events such as Junior Grand Prix figure skating, a significant competition for aspiring Olympians aged 13 and above.
With the surge in viewership on online streams, Bates, who leads the International Skating Union’s athletes committee, highlighted the increase in negative interactions. He emphasized the detrimental impact of such behavior on young skaters, stressing that their pursuit of skating excellence at the ISU level should not jeopardize their mental well-being.
Prior to the International Skating Union’s endorsement of a campaign against online abuse, Bates urged high-profile skaters to speak out against online harassment. He advocated for a more active role from experienced athletes in denouncing individuals who contribute to creating harmful environments for skaters.
The ISU recently joined the United Against Online Abuse campaign, originally initiated by the FIA, a governing body in auto racing. This collaboration aims to address the escalating issue of online hostility, which has become a common trend in various sports, including figure skating.
Bates revealed efforts to encourage skaters to utilize a protective tool that can shield them from negative or abusive content on social media platforms. Despite initial reservations about third-party tools accessing their accounts, the tool has successfully identified and flagged 300,000 negative comments, half of which were during the Olympics, on the profiles of 92 skaters utilizing the system.
Highlighting the prevalence of online harassment towards athletes, Bates attributed this phenomenon to evolving internet culture. He drew parallels to in-person sports events where spectators sometimes engage in inappropriate behavior towards athletes, emphasizing that social media now provides a more direct avenue for individuals to target athletes with harmful comments.