Level Playing Field will participate in a social media boycott this weekend as we join forces with all clubs, the FA, Premier League, EFL, Women’s Super League and various other football partners to raise awareness of online abuse.
Football has come together in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse players have been receiving online, but it’s not just players. Never have we been more connected than we are now. The world is at our fingertips, yet there is still a mindset that what is said online is not real life. For many, social media is not only the default way of observing the world, but it is also the way we communicate with it.
It should not be surprising that this is as true for disabled people as it is for other social media users.
1 in 10 of all reported disability hate crimes take place online and sadly this continues to rise, with recorded incidents up by almost a third (33%) in 2019, according to the disability charity Leonard Cheshire’s report.
Level Playing Field is supporting the social media boycott across football from 15:00 BST on Fri 30 April to 23:59 BST on Mon 3 May, to put pressure on social media companies who must do more to eradicate online hate and educate people in the ongoing fight against discrimination. A fight Level Playing Field will continue to pursue to ensure that no matter your disability, race, religion, gender or sexuality, you can attend a live sport and talk about it online wihtout being subjected to online abuse.
Level Playing Field remain open and are available to contact.
Email: info@levelplayingfield.org.uk
Telehone: 01923 545 370