Wrestlers, like many public figures, are often victims of a constant stream of negativity online. Examples are racist or sexist remarks directed at their character or personal life, threats of violence or physical harm, and personal attacks on the wrestler's appearance, family, or personal relationships. This online abuse can have an overwhelming impact on wrestlers' careers, mental health, and well-being.
The devastating consequences of online harassment are tragically demonstrated by the situation of Hana Kimura, a Japanese professional wrestler who took her own life in 2020 after experiencing a never-ending campaign of cyberbullying. Her story is a reminder of the potential impact of online abuse and the urgent need for effective solutions.
Artificial intelligence defends against online harassment in a number of ways. It can scan very large amounts of text, images, and videos on social media platforms, identifying and flagging potentially harmful content, using natural language processing (NLP) to understand the context and meaning of words that allows it to detect sly forms of abuse that might be missed by human moderators. While social media companies rarely make public the specifics of their AI moderation systems, it's widely known that they are heavily reliant on them. These systems are used to filter out spam and bot accounts, detect and remove hate speech, and prioritize human review.
Some AI systems can predict potential harassment before it happens by analyzing user behavior and recognizing patterns associated with abusive language, which allows platforms to take proactive steps to prevent harassment from increasing. AI can analyze the overall attitude of online conversations, identifying trends and patterns of negativity directed at specific wrestlers, and this information can be used to understand the scope of the problem and develop targeted interventions. Also, modern AI is getting better at understanding context, sarcasm, and coded language, which is key in detecting online harassment- for example, a simple word might be harmless in one context but strongly offensive in another, and AI is improving at making these distinctions.
AI represents a significant step forward in the fight against online harassment. As its technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more sophisticated tools being developed to protect wrestlers and other individuals from online abuse.
While AI is helping on the technical side, fans also have a major role to play. If they see someone being harassed online, fans should report it to the platform. They should spread positive messages and support their favorite wrestlers. Fans should also avoid responding to or engaging with abusive comments from trolls in defense of the wrestler, as this usually adds fuel to the situation. In addition, they should support positive initiatives and campaigns. Responsible online behavior would help create a safer and more beneficial environment for wrestlers and everyone else.
Meanwhile, beyond powerful AI solutions and responsible fan behavior, wrestlers themselves can take preventative steps to lessen the extent of online harassment. This includes utilizing platform tools like blocking, muting, filtering, reporting, and adjusting privacy settings to manage their online presence and limit unwanted interactions.
It's important for wrestlers to set clear boundaries between their public and private lives online, avoid engaging with trolls, and, while continuing to promote themselves on social media, prioritize their mental health by taking breaks from social media when necessary. Seeking support from trusted individuals, professional help, or support organizations can provide valuable coping mechanisms. In severe cases involving threats, consulting legal professionals is advised.
Furthermore, wrestlers can leverage their platform to advocate for change by raising awareness about online harassment and advocating for stronger measures to combat it, and supporting organizations and initiatives that are working to create a safer online environment. Examples of such initivates are the Be a STAR program by WWE and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and anti-bullying events like those held by Yanagase Pro Wrestling. For a more in-depth look at anti-bullying initiatives within the wrestling community, check out this post.
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