[News] Swansea to boycott social media for a week

[Easy 10]

For a week that'll show 'em

Its making a point, and it is a starting point to what will (hopefully) become a snowball effect. First Swansea, then Brum, now Rangers already. Liverpool players were abused this week, if they make the same stand then I think this could really start to gather momentum. The more clubs take this stance, and the higher profile they are, increases the chances of the social media moguls being forced into a response beyond the generic "we condemn all forms of racism", blah, and will hopefully force them into taking tangible action.

This could be just the start.

 

[beorhthelm]

For a week that'll show 'em

yes, it needs to be a suspension until some reasonable measure is made, otherwise its nothing.

 

[Easy 10]

I'm not sure i will notice,
does everyone follow the Albion players or any football players on social media? (i don't) assuming you do, what difference will it make to you or impact on you?

No.

But I'll see on the news if/when when big clubs start blanking social media and calling them out to address the constant stream of unaccountable foul racist abuse their platforms freely enable.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...social-media-in-fight-against-abhorrent-abuse

Do you think we should join in with them?

I do.

I think if all the clubs joined in, this would create a powerful message

Thread rule. No need to for wider discussion about racism. More about whether more action could or should be taken against social media companies in light of the increasing reports of abuse.

If every sports star did this instead of the knee, social media would sort their shit out within a month.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Swansea coming off social media for a week does and achieves absolutely nothing at all, other than denying their genuine and passionate fans the opportunity to see the training pictures and build up to and fall out from the matches. Therefore, I am out. It's a gesture with no trousers for me. The social media companies should be regulated, and you should be liable for every comment you make. If a comment is reported by any user, the company should immediately be able to trace who made the comment and take the appropriate action.

Swansea has come off social media, but they have explicitly stated they will publish training pics, match build up etc on their website, so fans won't lose out. Everyone except the abusers and the platform owners will agree with the rest of your post, so I'm in. Mind you, apart from NSC and Whatsapp, I don't use social media!

 

[Easy 10]

If every sports star did this instead of the knee, social media would sort their shit out within a month.

This.

And its clearly do-able. There are algorithms that pick up when copyright material is linked / posted, so you can't tell me they can't do the same type of thing that would pick up certain words and phrases. Then its a case of shutting down the account permanently and immediately and (ideally) tracing the goon who posted it.

And yeah, any racist who has their account shut down can just go and open another one via another email. But you'd have to be some kind of prolific prick to keep doing it over and over again - then who's to say your luck won't eventually run out and you DO get traced ? You'll never fully eradicate it, but it would reduce the numbers imo. And at LEAST provide some kind of deterrent, where currently there is none.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

This.

And its clearly do-able. There are algorithms that pick up when copyright material is linked / posted, so you can't tell me they can't do the same type of thing that would pick up certain words and phrases. Then its a case of shutting down the account permanently and immediately and (ideally) tracing the goon who posted it.

And yeah, any racist who has their account shut down can just go and open another one via another email. But you'd have to be some kind of prolific prick to keep doing it over and over again - then who's to say your luck won't eventually run out and you DO get traced ? You'll never fully eradicate it, but it would reduce the numbers imo.

Or just have an upload feature for ID, you have to do it in some cases for Facebook I think?

It’s pretty simple, most bookies have the tech in place.

 

[Easy 10]

Or just have an upload feature for ID, you have to do it in some cases for Facebook I think?

It’s pretty simple, most bookies have the tech in place.

This is the thing - social media companies will NEVER impose proper ID for its users, because that would drastically reduce their user numbers at a stroke.

Not gonna happen. It would take a change in the law to bring that in, and I can't see every nation in the word taking on these tech companies to bring it in. And if its not every country bound by it, then whats the point ?

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

This is the thing - social media companies will NEVER impose proper ID for its users, because that would drastically reduce their user numbers at a stroke.

Not gonna happen. It would take a change in the law to bring that in, and I can't see every nation in the word taking on these tech companies to bring it in. And if its not every country bound by it, then whats the point ?

If you take away one of the main reason people use (celebs/sports etc) it they will lose millions of users.

It would take one league to go first, but I imagine most major leagues would follow

 

[Acker79]

[tweet]1380241536869359619[/tweet]

 

[Easy 10]

[tweet]1380241536869359619[/tweet]

This is another thing I'll never understand.

Why, in the name of all that is FRIG, would you bother following a footballer / celeb when you know full well its not them doing the posting ? Instead its being ghost-written by some media trained, anonymous, latte-guzzling ponytailed PONCE.

You'd have to be some kind of moron (I appreciate there are many kinds of moron).

 

[Easy 10]

If you take away one of the main reason people use (celebs/sports etc) it they will lose millions of users.

It would take one league to go first, but I imagine most major leagues would follow

They'd lose millions more if they suddenly had to start providing ID to either maintain or open a new account.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Exactly, will have no effect whatsoever, Swansea some irrelevant drop in the ocean to Farcebook. What percentage of fans even check their club’s social media anyway?

No effect? Well, it’s started a discussion on here so it’s had some effect. Peers and colleagues who have suffered abuse will feel supported. And I’m sure it will encourage some others to speak out, act and/or express themselves. Clearly Facebook won’t buckle overnight but it will certainly have an effect at a small level at the very least...and that’s a start.

 

[Sheebo]

How about everyone boycotts them forever?

 

[Bry Nylon]

This is another thing I'll never understand.

Why, in the name of all that is FRIG, would you bother following a footballer / celeb when you know full well its not them doing the posting ? Instead its being ghost-written by some media trained, anonymous, latte-guzzling ponytailed PONCE.

You'd have to be some kind of moron (I appreciate there are many kinds of moron).

You mean you post all this stuff yourself Easy? I handed over my NSC account to a media management company about 18 months ago. They just post on my behalf and send me an Excel spreadsheet of Thumbsup’ once a month.

I thought that’s what everybody does

 

[Iggle Piggle]

You mean you post all this stuff yourself Easy? I handed over my NSC account to a media management company about 18 months ago. They just post on my behalf and send me an Excel spreadsheet of Thumbsup’ once a month.

I thought that’s what everybody does

I had a look online but couldn't find a suitable company so the posts are all my own. The only one I found was 'Hove born and bred media' which promised everyone would think I was a complete, self important, knobhead within 500 posts.

 

[wellquickwoody]

I think if all the clubs joined in, this would create a powerful message
.

I saw some crap about players should not have to accept racism on social media as part of their job. They don’t.

Playing football is their job, they choose to be on social media. Racism is wrong whatever.

 

[Acker79]

This is another thing I'll never understand.

Why, in the name of all that is FRIG, would you bother following a footballer / celeb when you know full well its not them doing the posting ? Instead its being ghost-written by some media trained, anonymous, latte-guzzling ponytailed PONCE.

You'd have to be some kind of moron (I appreciate there are many kinds of moron).

I suppose it depends on why you're following them, and what content you want/they provide. For instance, I follow a couple of film directors, I don't know or care if they are personally posting stuff, but it's usually the first place to post official things like trailers, behind the scenes photos, project updates, etc. That's what I go there for and it's what I get regardless.

I don't actually follow any footballers, I'm not interested in seeing their private lives, photos from their holidays/mansions etc. I don't need to get their attention by constantly tweeting them for birthday wishes or shout outs etc. Similarly people who are famous for being famous, or influencers. I'm not interested in seeing lifestyles. I suppose if it's important to you, even if it's a PR company posting on someone's behalf, you at least know it's legit and not some perv with a long lens spying on them.

 

[Easy 10]

You mean you post all this stuff yourself Easy? I handed over my NSC account to a media management company about 18 months ago. They just post on my behalf and send me an Excel spreadsheet of Thumbsup’ once a month.

I thought that’s what everybody does

Indeed. The actual Easy 10 outsourced this account in 2014 to a 15 year old goth in Silicon Valley, sponsored by Pepsi Max Cherry Cola, so he could spend more time with his family.

 

[portlock seagull]

Several billion online
Worlds biggest sports league
English common global language

So it’s entirely possible a football fan on other side of the world, or even a rogue government, sends an abusive text and clubs shut down?!! Might as well not start up again.

Because its never ever going to stop. You cannot control the internet. Like trying to control nature. A million safeguards and people will always get round. Unless, of course, the victims (many of whom don’t even manage their own online persona) switch off their accounts so the abusers have no one to abuse. I know which solution i’d advocate. Abusers are never going to go to trouble of sending abuse using a stamped addressed envelope! Too much time effort and cost. Tech makes it easy. To send abuse. And receive. So switch it off. Job done.