The United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) Coalition has published, in honour of Safer Internet Day, a new Safeguarding Guide designed to provide practical support for anyone experiencing online abuse.
As online abuse continues to affect athletes, officials, volunteers, journalists and fans across the sporting ecosystem, the guide offers simple, actionable steps to help individuals protect themselves, document abuse, report harmful content and prioritise their wellbeing.
The guide outlines six key actions:
- Collect evidence safely by documenting abusive content without recirculating it.
- Assess the threat and recognise different forms of online abuse, from hate speech and trolling to impersonation, doxing and deepfakes.
- Block and report abusive behaviour on social media platforms and, where necessary, contact local authorities if personal safety is at risk.
- Check in with your wellbeing, acknowledging the emotional impact online abuse can have and encouraging individuals to seek support from trusted people or professionals.
- Review privacy and safety settings, including enabling two-factor authentication and using platform tools to limit unwanted interactions.
- Feel empowered, reinforcing that everyone deserves a safe online environment and that speaking out can help create positive change.
The guide also includes platform-specific reporting guidance for Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok, making it easier for users to understand how to report abusive content directly through each platform.
Everyone deserves to participate in sport without fear of harassment or abuse. Through practical resources such as this guide, UAOA continues to empower individuals, raise awareness and encourage collective action to ensure that online abuse has no place in sport.
Access and download the guide, available here.
