Jess Carter subjected to online abuse during Euro 2025

Jess Carter is the target of significant online abuse during Euro 2025, highlighting a growing issue in sports.

Jess Carter faces severe online abuse during Euro 2025

During Euro 2025, England Women's defender Jess Carter has emerged as a prominent victim of online abuse. New research from SentientSports GuardianAI indicates that Carter was subjected to the highest level of negativity on social media during a match against Sweden. The findings reveal that 6.8 percent of posts analyzed during the game contained abusive content, with Carter experiencing 14 percent of this negativity, the highest of any player. Despite her strong performance leading England to the semi-finals, she has chosen to reduce her social media presence due to the aggressive messages she has received. The analysis highlights that 91 percent of posts about her reflected negative sentiments, prompting calls for social media platforms to take responsibility for their users' actions.

The abuse directed at Jess Carter reflects a disturbing trend in online interactions, especially in women's sports. While football has long been criticized for its toxic fan culture, this data illustrates how pervasive and damaging online hostility can be. The predominance of male users engaging in abusive commentary underscores a significant problem that demands more than just conversation—active measures must be taken to ensure player safety. Experts suggest that current social media protocols are insufficient, leading to an urgent need for technology-driven solutions that prevent such incidents. As conversations around online safety deepen, accountability from platforms becomes vital to curtail the hate that athletes face.

Highlights

The growing prevalence of online abuse in sports necessitates immediate action from both social media and regulatory bodies.