Media Blogs Create Concerns About High-tech Bullying
By Bill Boyle
The advent of blogs on Internet Web sites has had a significant impact on media coverage of high school sports. In addition to providing journalistic coverage of activities, the sites allow dispersed groups of fans, who may share a common passion for a team, with a forum to discuss how the team is doing.
Fans have responded in large numbers, making the high school sports blogs some of the most popular Web sites. The blogs help drive fans to media Web sites and are key to the growth strategy of many media outlets.
Problems may result when a fan's passion for a team turns excessively negative. All too often, a fan's venom is shared, with relative anonymity, at the expense of young student-athletes.
A number of the negative respondents are "trolls," who post controversial statements with the simple intent of causing havoc. They are not contributing to the discussion as much as trying to disrupt the discussion.
Many officials are concerned about the extreme negativity of many comments on some sites and the possible damage that they can cause.
In Kentucky, state legislator Tim Couch finally lost patience with spiraling negativity on the online blogs and introduced legislation that would outlaw anonymous postings on Web sites.
Couch's bill proposed that Web site operators be fined $500 if someone was allowed to make anonymous posts on Web sites. The fine would double for subsequent offenses.
The bill was filed in March 2008. Had it become law, enforcing the bill would have been a challenge for a number of reasons.
While it failed to advance through the Kentucky House of Representatives for a host of reasons, Couch's bill did shed light on the issue to the general public. While Couch is from the same area of Kentucky, he is not the Tim Couch who played football for the University of Kentucky.
In another attempt to address the problem, in 2008 the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) released a statement expressing concern about the growing negativity of blogs.
The statement was written by Dave Wilkey, the Association's then-assistant director, and carried the signatures of Laura Baker and Paul C. Smith, the chairs of the association's Board of Directors and Executive Committee, respectively.
The letter requests "that media outlets adopt parameters for allowing appropriate public comment, especially anonymously, when directed toward high school coaches and administrators and toward our impressionable high school athletes."
The letter praises the positive impact of the increased coverage, but pleads that media outlets "assume responsibility by eliminating the vulgar, untrue and very damaging remarks that appear without consequence to the writer. Even though these comments are not printed in papers nor read on newscasts, they are published to thousands of blog readers."
Wilkey, who has since become UHSAA executive director, reports that he was very pleased with the response to the letter. "The response from coaches, principals, students and parents has been universally positive," he said. "They understand the problem and appreciate our efforts."
He added that he is most satisfied with the response from the media. "I am very pleased that the media understands the issue and has been very positive in their response. One community newspaper published a glowing editorial in support of the letter."
Any expectations that the blogs will be dismantled are misplaced. It is clear that they are here to stay. They offer fans a chance to have their voice heard and drive a great deal of traffic to Web sites.
There are a number of steps that can be taken to address negativity on high school blog sites. They include:
- Monitor the blogs. Simply following the traffic on the popular blogs will give school officials an idea of trends and offer a heads-up if problems begin to develop. Officials can respond quickly if someone is being attacked.
- Express concerns to the Web sites. There are a number of steps that many Web sites are taking to limit abuse on blogs. They include requiring registration of blog participants, allowing other blog visitors to designate "trolls," and monitoring sites for inappropriate comments.
Media outlets know well how hiding behind anonymity seems to embolden writers to say things that they would never say with their name attached to a Letter to the Editor.
- Respond to negative comments on the blogs. A simple reminder of the need to be civil may go a long way in solving problems. Blogs have exhibited an ability to police themselves. However, if negative comments go unchallenged, they will become the accepted practice. Voices of reason need to develop appropriate responses to inappropriate comments. Avoid the negative.
- Refer to school bullying policies. Negative comments on blog sites can be, in many ways, nothing more than high-tech bullying. Schools have developed bullying policies that may help develop appropriate responses.
- Notify appropriate parties. This may include the student, parents, teachers, coaches, administrators and activity association officials. Counseling with a student who is being attacked may be useful.
Bill Boyle is editor and publisher of the San Juan Record in Monticello, Utah. He is also a member of the boards of the San Juan School District and the Utah High School Activities Association, and the High School Today Publications Committee.
