Angel Reese leads the charge for an AI tool to prevent cyberbullying in women’s sports: WNBA stars fight back against trolls!
A new AI program shields the Chicago Sky forward from internet hostility.
Angel Reese responds to cyberbullying.
Angel Reese is no stranger to online hate, and she is now leading the effort to stop it for good. As women’s sports have grown in popularity, so has the prevalence of internet abuse, with cruel insults directed at female athletes.
According to The Net, a mental health network for women in sports, 87% of female athletes had encountered online abuse in the previous year. However, Reese and the Chicago Sky are leading a ground-breaking method to address this issue.
In a stunning new campaign, Reese collaborates with The Net and agency Barkley OKRP to launch a cutting-edge AI tool that prevents harmful remarks on social media.
The effort, known as “Block the Negativity, Post Up Positivity,” is presently in beta testing with Chicago Sky players and seeks to protect athletes from negative content on their X (previously Twitter) profiles.
Angel Reese is at the forefront of this groundbreaking endeavor, having firsthand experience with the effects of internet harassment. From her collegiate days at LSU to her rookie season with the Chicago Sky, Reese has received a barrage of racist and misogynistic remarks.
The powerful message against cyberbullying
In the ad film, Reese and her colleagues, including Chennedy Carter, Isabelle Harrison, and Brianna Turner, are seen destroying cruel comments on and off the court to represent their fight against cyberbullying.
“Our developers were shocked at the level of hate that Angel receives,” said Rony Castor, Barkley OKRP’s group creative director. “It’s alarming and heartbreaking.”
The AI program automatically recognises and blurs out harmful comments, displaying the word “Negativity Blocked.” It enables athletes to concentrate on their game, both mentally and emotionally, without being bombarded with criticism.
The effort is already gaining steam, with Reese’s teammates and Chicago Sky head coach Theresa Weatherspoon encouraging her. The WNBA’s growing popularity, with quadrupled viewership this season, has elicited both favour and criticism.
The league recognized the need of protecting its players’ mental health and invested in this artificial intelligence platform to address the growing problem of cyberbullying. “As more eyes are on the WNBA, the harassment has only intensified,” said Tania Haladner, CMO of the Chicago Sky.
The app will soon protect the other teams.
The Net’s website provides real-time data on the quantity of detrimental posts that the AI program has blocked. Underneath the blurred-out negativity, the site features positive remarks about the squad, advising players and supporters to focus on creating a friendly environment.
For the time being, the program only works on X and is designed to target postings regarding the Chicago Sky. However, the intention is to broaden its capabilities, with the goal of protecting athletes throughout the WNBA and beyond. “We want this to be something that protects players while also promoting positivity,” said Michelle Robles, creative director at BarkleyOKRP.
Angel Reese’s effort to combat online abuse is already making waves, and as the campaign takes traction, the aim is that this AI tool will soon become a league-wide standard, making the internet a safer environment for female athletes everywhere.
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