AFL wants more protection for players copping abuse on social media

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says that social media abuse has risen this year, with Harley Reid one of the players targeted. The AFL has called on major tech companies to step up as a result.

The AFL is calling on major tech companies including Meta and Twitter (X) to beef-up protections for players who receive vile social media abuse as more young stars delete their accounts.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson revealed on Monday that online abuse had risen this year the point “where you need to get the police involved”.

It’s understood teenager Harley Reid and Elliot Yeo are among the Eagles who have been targeted.

Harley Reid has been on the receiving end of social media abuse. Picture: Getty Images

Fremantle’s Jordan Clark locked his social media accounts after a recent spate of abuse.

“There needs to be more protection of players with social media,” Clark said.

“Whether it’s racial, homophobic or just generally attacking someone, there needs to be more protection.”

North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood removed herself from Twitter (X) after receiving gender-based abuse this season.

Western Bulldogs teenager Ryley Sanders has also deactivated his Instagram account although it’s understood Sanders was simply disinterested with the platform.

The AFL claimed it could only take action against trolls if they were a member of a club or the league unless a player filed a police report.

“I have said numerous times to the social media platforms that we do want to see them do more to address these issues,” AFL general manager of inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch said this week.

“There’s different technologies now that we’re trialling to see whether that can assist to prevent some of that hate speech from coming through on to people’s platforms.

“But also we really need to continue to educate.

“Our players who are targeted are just doing their job and some what they endure as a result of that is just heartbreaking and again does take a toll.

Social media abuse towards AFL players has been a problem for many years now. Picture: Getty Images

“So we really do want to see the platforms put more in place to help.”

Security measures including word filtering have not proven overly useful and there is a frustration that tech companies have not been more proactive in prioritising user safety.

Social media ranks as the No.2 societal issue for male and female players, behind only mental health.

An AFL Players’ Association survey during Covid showed that 2 per cent of male players who use social media experienced trolling or abuse every day.

A further 16 per cent said they experienced trolling or abuse most days.

The primary motivation was related to player performance (78 per cent), an incident on gameday (43 per cent) and gambling or team performance (33 per cent).

“No one deserves the vitriol we have all seen sent their way online – be it racially motivated, harassment based on gender, or because of the gambling habits of fans,” AFLPA boss Paul Marsh has said.

“Vilification in any form, online or otherwise, should never be tolerated.”

Hosch told the AFL website more needed to be done to protect the football community from keyboard warriors.

“The work that we’ve done with eSafety Commissioner has really enabled us to communicate and educate clubs about what they can do with the tools that are in place,” she said.

“But we’re really keen to see more done to prevent people from any kind of vilification towards our players or staff or umpires.”