Katie Boulter abuse: Tennis players call for social media ID after online abuse

Speaking to Francesca Jones after 32 defeats at Nottingham Open on Tuesday, Harriet Dart, the number four, called for introducing identity measures while creating social media accounts.

Dart, “the amount of abuse of all of us is quite unimaginable.” He said.

“WTA is trying to do something about it with the threat matrix system, but unfortunately, people can continue to reopen the accounts until Instagram identity or something else confirm.”

Boulter’s partner and the world’s number 12 Alex de Minaur said that increasing number of athletes did not deal with their own social media accounts due to abuse.

“It’s very good that comes out [social media]But there is a dark side, “he said.

On Wednesday, the British number three Sonay Kartal called for collective action before the last 16 at Nottingham.

“These people can only create endless accounts. And I don’t know who to be held responsible, I don’t think it’s just one person,” he said.

“If I can help report this, WTA can help report it, we’ll do our best to come together and eliminate it. I think it’s the best way to get rid of it.”

The figures provided by the data science firm show that approximately 8,000 abusive, severe or threatening messages have been sent to 458 tennis players through social media accounts in 2024.

However, for darts, social media abuse goes far beyond tennis.

“This is not just a tennis problem,” he said. “This is a global issue, and it’s not just a sports problem. Everywhere. Even normal people, whatever trolled or some people or individuals.

“We live in the 21st century and we don’t have people on social media. You can connect people to each other, and then people can be found and something. Because we all get the abuse of us. So, often, social media can be like a great negative.

“In addition, our very impressive young women, these days there are young men on social media. I am an experienced athlete who has passed on this issue for a very long time. I know what they say to me.

“But for much younger and inexperienced people, I think it can be very worrying and very dangerous.”

British men’s number one Jack Draper shared Boulter’s concerns about future generations.

“I think we’re lucky enough to turn into social media, whereas you know, the resulting generation is growing with it,” he said.

“That’s why they don’t know anything different.

Carlos Alcaraz, the number two men of the world, said that he did not look at social media after being lost because the abuse is “difficult to deal with”.

“I’ve seen many players who received a lot of messages from people from gamblers.

“If I need to give a advice, [it would be] Not to see social media when things don’t go well, because people can sometimes be really dangerous. “