By Eric Olson, Associated Press
The Iowa State women’s basketball star, Audi Crooks, has a romantic relationship with social media.
Sometimes she will parade through her direct messages and will find a note from a little girl who considers her as a model and asks for advice or take a photo with her after the next match.
Other times, the top scorer of the Big 12 will receive a message criticizing the appearance of her appearance, the way she plays or the way she acts.
“They are missing the whole point of social media, the Internet, to be able to interact with us,” said Crooks. “I want to use my social platform for positive connections.”
With March Madness approaching and International Women’s Day on Saturday, Crooks and Hannah Stualke of Iowa promote healthy digital habits thanks to their image, image and resemblance to UscellullululiUllul partnerships.
“I think the creation of links with people online can be very healthy,” said Staalke. “There are many younger girls who contact me and I can answer and encourage what they do. This is the advantage of social media, being able to supervise people and be a leader of people who may not have a leader. »»
The online mistreatment of university athletes received attention last weekend when the male basketball player of Kansas, Zeke Mayo, shared screenshots of hateful socializations directed against him after having had trouble defeating in Texas Tech.
An NCAA study published last fall revealed that university athletes are targeted for online abuse three times more than male athletes. Among the types of content targeting athletes, 18% were sexual in nature, 17% were general abuses, 14% were sexist and 12% of the games of chance.
The NCAA has said that abusive content can lead to targeted athletes to suffer from anxiety, depression, loss of confidence, panic attacks and in extreme cases can be a factor contributing to suicidal trends or actions. Most sports departments have advisers to help athletes who find it difficult to deal with online negativity.
“Most of the time,” said Crooks, “I’m trying to brush him.”
But it’s not always easy to do, she said.
“For women in sports in particular, there are simply not many things you can do without being criticized, that you celebrate, you become a little Chippy. All of a sudden, it’s out of line, “she said. “But if a male basketball player had to do the same thing, then they agree.
“From the point of view of social media, these are the opinions of:” Oh, it is arrogant, it is that, it is that. She looks like this. It appears this way. It is not very feminine. “”
Staalke said that she was following the advice of the Iowa coach Jansen, to the players, who is to put the phone and spend time with people who count the most, be it teammates, coaches, friends or family. When Stualke looks at Instagram, she knows it is possible that there is an unpleasant message that awaits him from an anonymous keyboard warrior.
“I think it is important that we disseminated the message that it happens to us and that there are ways to manage it,” said Stualke, “and that you are not alone if you have trouble with that.”
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
