The FA, Premier League, EFL, FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, PFA, LMA, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football & the Football Supporters’ Association will unite for a social media boycott next weekend from Friday afternoon until the end of Monday.

Everyone, organisation and individual, is invited to join us in this, brought about by the increasing amount of abuse on social media platforms.

Does the boycott include this messageboard?

4:20 wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:15 pm

Does the boycott include this messageboard?

That's an interesting question but I would say not given the fact that the sort of thing that gets through on such as social media is quickly removed on this board.

A bit more info

https://thefsa.org.uk/news/english-foot ... a-boycott/

TBH, it would probably do everyone a bit of good; with the obvious exception of some very isolated and lonely people.

It will make absolutely no difference at all because, like the 'Respect' campaign, there will always be those who work hard to influence things and make it work, however, there is also the minority who just see it as a challenge to buck the trend because they have no respect whatsoever whether it relates to football or race in general.

They can try everything to stop things, however, sadly, they are fighting a losing battle because things are indoctrinated into various parts of society.

Will anything change for Burnley fans? The club/players don’t interact on social media anyway.

The only way any change is going to happen is if government pull there fingers out make every online account provide ID

Ashingtonclaret46 wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:33 pm

It will make absolutely no difference at all because, like the 'Respect' campaign, there will always be those who work hard to influence things and make it work, however, there is also the minority who just see it as a challenge to buck the trend because they have no respect whatsoever whether it relates to football or race in general.

They can try everything to stop things, however, sadly, they are fighting a losing battle because things are indoctrinated into various parts of society.

I've been working on this with the FSA for a few weeks now and we know it is a very difficult task we've taken on but we are determined that we can find some improvements.

The Football League have instigated this particular boycott for next week. If it fails, nothing is lost but it has been good to see some prosecutions in the last couple of weeks. At least some are taking it seriously.

I am all for anything that stops racism or discrimination, but it's always the majority who suffer for the mindless minority
There are plenty of people, who rely on social media to update them on scores in games, who will struggle that weekend through no fault of their own

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:17 pm

That's an interesting question but I would say not given the fact that the sort of thing that gets through on such as social media is quickly removed on this board.

Thanks Tony, I read my question back, it wasn't intended as a snipe or anything, I realise the work you and the mods do on this messageboard, even going as far to restructure the actual content that can be posted on here.
As an example, there are times when I've gone on Twitter and reposted the team sheet on the matchday thread, I was unsure as to whether even going on the club's own website and copying the teamsheet here, next week, would run counter to the spirit of the boycott.

Would messageboards, including this one, not come under the umbrella of social media?

They should just stop using it permanently instead.

BFCmaj wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:43 am

Would messageboards, including this one, not come under the umbrella of social media?

Which of the organisations and individuals that have agreed to the boycott use this messageboard?

It won’t stop any abuse, but merely delay the time for them to read it.

I honestly believe that for the problem to be addressed correctly it requires anyone recieving abuse to take the choice to remove themselves from the platform. This will result (eventually) in those platforms where abuse is rife finally doing something about it. Their revenue model is based on adverts and they need the traffic from celebs to help generate that, if they go, the platforms will lose money.

4:20 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:41 am

Thanks Tony, I read my question back, it wasn't intended as a snipe or anything, I realise the work you and the mods do on this messageboard, even going as far to restructure the actual content that can be posted on here.
As an example, there are times when I've gone on Twitter and reposted the team sheet on the matchday thread, I was unsure as to whether even going on the club's own website and copying the teamsheet here, next week, would run counter to the spirit of the boycott.

That will be fine. The club won't be using social media at all so I expect they will post it on the official site.

I'm not so sure it's up to the victim to leave, Zlat.
As we've seen on this board, strong and speedy moderation will, eventually, force the political, racist or bullying types to clear off.
I know it's a pain for the mods but this board has improved immeasurably over the past few months because of their insistence on the board's rules being followed.

It will be interesting to see if the likes of sky stop their coverage of football on their social media platforms, they have been at the forefront of promoting all the various campaigns, now they could actually get involved.

evensteadiereddie wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 10:05 am

I'm not so sure it's up to the victim to leave, Zlat.
As we've seen on this board, strong and speedy moderation will, eventually, force the political, racist or bullying types to clear off.
I know it's a pain for the mods but this board has improved immeasurably over the past few months because of their insistence on the board's rules being followed.

Absolutely, whereas the current status of social media is they don’t moderate. If enough people stop using it, they’ll have to moderate won’t they, or risk losing revenue.

This forum is certainly moderated well, and if Twitter and Facebook were moderated as well as here there’d be no problem would there

Zlatan wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 11:02 am

Absolutely, whereas the current status of social media is they don’t moderate. If enough people stop using it, they’ll have to moderate won’t they, or risk losing revenue.

This forum is certainly moderated well, and if Twitter and Facebook were moderated as well as here there’d be no problem would there

How do you moderate something where millions are posting every second though?

Grumps wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 11:04 am

How do you moderate something where millions are posting every second though?

They’re massive tech orgs, their problem not mine

Zlatan wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 8:09 am

It won’t stop any abuse, but merely delay the time for them to read it.

I honestly believe that for the problem to be addressed correctly it requires anyone recieving abuse to take the choice to remove themselves from the platform. This will result (eventually) in those platforms where abuse is rife finally doing something about it. Their revenue model is based on adverts and they need the traffic from celebs to help generate that, if they go, the platforms will lose money.

Putting an end to anonymity on the main social media platforms is the ONLY way to stop it.

4:20 wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:15 pm

Does the boycott include this messageboard?

After some of the comments last night, it wouldn’t do any harm

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 11:12 am

Putting an end to anonymity on the main social media platforms is the ONLY way to stop it.

They won’t do it pal. I’m part of a Digital Identity tech business and in weekly discussions with Sanjay at Kick it Out, the EPL and EFL .... I can tell you 100%, big tech social sites don’t give a toss. We think football is big, but it’s not. Companies like FB and Twitter are more concerned with global politics and data engineering - football is like 10th down the list. The clubs can come off social media for a time or permanently, but the majority of players won’t because as at least 4 club chairman have told me “they use it day in day out to pick up girls” .... they are young lads, so can completely understand that. Having identity behind a persona is key - they just will not do it.

Can’t they just all leave full stop ? Does anyone truly care about a Twitter boycott? With a few noble exceptions it’s a bloody awful place of toxicity

I actually think closing the messageboard would send a great message. It’s about not posting the abuse in the first place, rather than how quickly any abuse is posted. One to consider.

MDWat wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 11:47 am

I actually think closing the messageboard would send a great message. It’s about not posting the abuse in the first place, rather than how quickly any abuse is posted. One to consider.

But how would Frank cope?

Seriously though, it's a good idea in theory, but sadly, there are too many individuals who, whether they're in the public eye or not, will get withdrawal symptoms if they're not on social media for longer than a few minutes, never mind a few days.

I think a link needs putting up of what is social media. I would be thinking facebook, twitter, whatsapp, etc
Sky putting up scores is not social media to me it is information.

Now insult all fans with media scatter gun flak to call them every which way to distract from the ESL.

Bitch bites back AND all self-righteous clean and honourable.

I'd boycott twitter forever, its brought no positives to the world, even if it has, the negatives far outweigh them. Horrible platform as are the people who use it.

I see it that part of actions like this is not to impact the perpetrators but to make their actions impact everyone to try and push society as a whole to take ownership around not letting it go on.

We saw with the ESL the power fans/ordinary people can have when they come together with passion. The ESL negatively impacts the vast majority of football fans which is why there was such a strong unified response

Something like racism only impacts a small percentage of people so unless action is taken in a way that makes those not effected feel the pain in some way then we will never get the mass unified attack on racism that is needed to really make positive steps.

One weekend in isolation isnt going to make much difference but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

claptrappers_union wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 2:49 pm

I'd boycott twitter forever, its brought no positives to the world, even if it has, the negatives far outweigh them. Horrible platform as are the people who use it.

Comments like this about Twitter are so ill-informed and wrong its actual highlights more really what is wrong with this world. Twitter does untold good and is used by millions.

Calling a whole platform and the people who use it horrible because of certain sections would be like someone stating all messageboards and its users (including this one) are horrible because messageboards are used by pedophiles, extremist groups and for lots of other vile and disgusting things.

I understand the perspective of where you are coming from, but the problem is that millions of people use it... and that's the issue. I'm one of them, I have an account, one personal and one for business, not that I use twitter that often - once in a blue moon, but sometimes there might be a trending news item that grabs by attention or I'll read my feed, scrolling down :-

Crap after crap
Crap after crap
Crap after crap

Pull down to refresh... and we start again

Crap after crap
Crap after crap
Crap after crap

I've never understood the appeal personally.

claptrappers_union wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 3:26 pm

I understand the perspective of where you are coming from, but the problem is that millions of people use it... and that's the issue. I'm one of them, I have an account, one personal and one for business, not that I use twitter that often - once in a blue moon, but sometimes there might be a trending news item that grabs by attention or I'll read my feed, scrolling down :-

Crap after crap
Crap after crap
Crap after crap

Pull down to refresh... and we start again

Crap after crap
Crap after crap
Crap after crap

I've never understood the appeal personally.

You get out what you put in cos its hugely reliant on who you select to follow. I've no issue with you seeing it as sh*t and having no interest in it but just dont dismiss a platform which has around 200 million daily users as being wholesale rubbish and full of horrible people

Think of some of the acts of kindness we've seen on here over the years reaching out to help people in need and then multiply it by a million and thats just one example of the level of good a platform like Twitter can do

claptrappers_union wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 3:26 pm

I understand the perspective of where you are coming from, but the problem is that millions of people use it... and that's the issue. I'm one of them, I have an account, one personal and one for business, not that I use twitter that often - once in a blue moon, but sometimes there might be a trending news item that grabs by attention or I'll read my feed, scrolling down :-

Crap after crap
Crap after crap
Crap after crap

Pull down to refresh... and we start again

Crap after crap
Crap after crap
Crap after crap

I've never understood the appeal personally.

Calls Twitter users “horrible” people then in his very next post states he has two Twitter accounts. Jester.

Social Media boycott is something that will shake these Corporations and also failed politicians embraced by them.
Remember they rely on advertisers, who may believe it prudent to use social media platforms less in the future.
With the continuing abuse of black players on social media, not on here btw, I believe as an act of solidarity we should freeze UTC next weekend.

SouthLondonexile wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:09 pm

Social Media boycott is something that will shake these Corporations and also failed politicians embraced by them.
Remember they rely on advertisers, who may believe it prudent to use social media platforms less in the future.
With the continuing abuse of black players on social media, not on here btw, I believe as an act of solidarity we should freeze UTC next weekend.

One of our working group on this is employed in the social media industry and he reckons that the three main areas that get them their traffic, and therefore their advertising, are American politics, American sport and the Premier League.

djemba-djemba wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 5:07 pm

Calls Twitter users “horrible” people then in his very next post states he has two Twitter accounts. Jester.

I never said I was a nice person.

Anyway, if there was a crazed dictator who wanted to rid the Earths population problem and said “if you have a Twitter account, you’re the first to go”

I’d hold my hands up, accept my fate and know the world will be a better place without the likes of me.

claptrappers_union wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 3:26 pm

I understand the perspective of where you are coming from, but the problem is that millions of people use it... and that's the issue. I'm one of them, I have an account, one personal and one for business, not that I use twitter that often - once in a blue moon, but sometimes there might be a trending news item that grabs by attention or I'll read my feed, scrolling down :-

Crap after crap
Crap after crap
Crap after crap

Pull down to refresh... and we start again

Crap after crap
Crap after crap
Crap after crap

I've never understood the appeal personally.

Einstein can’t work that 1 out, by & large & for all intent & purposes it’s complete & utter garbage from start to finish, we all managed perfectly fine before it’s existence, the day when/if it ever ceases to exist the world will be a better place generally speaking.

I left the Social Media sites some time ago, it wasn't doing me any good reading negativity all of the time.

But, I see this boycott as a good thing; far better than the taking a knee which, in my opinion, has passed its sell by date. Hit them where it hurts and they will soon change things.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 11:12 am

Putting an end to anonymity on the main social media platforms is the ONLY way to stop it.

That then brings its own problems with oppressive regimes arresting people for what they've said on social media.

aggi wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 26, 2021 5:44 pm

That then brings its own problems with oppressive regimes arresting people for what they've said on social media.

Or you make it so only accounts that have proven their identity can talk with or contact verified accounts.

https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/statu ... 67429?s=19

Sky Sports will be boycotting from 3pm tomorrow until midnight Monday.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:51 pm

Or you make it so only accounts that have proven their identity can talk with or contact verified accounts.

That’s probably the solution mate. Give verified users the option as to whether they will or won’t interact with accounts that haven’t been verified. They can still have billions of unverified accounts, but if you want to interact with anyone who’s chosen security then you too will need verification

The list of companies to boycott as per GIADJ’s post above.
I, for one, will be blanking them for this period.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:51 pm

Or you make it so only accounts that have proven their identity can talk with or contact verified accounts.

I'm not sure about any solution which only stops abuse for "famous" people. Such a solution is likely to cause less effort on dealing with the problem generally as they can point at that as a solution.

I assume this boycott is meant to make the big tech companies take notice.

There seems no doubt they don’t do enough - for example, on Twitter whenever I make the mistake of clicking on a tweet from someone I follow (usually sports reporters, scientists or politics reporters) the “top” replies that I see first are often abusive and in many instances don’t even have a lot of likes or replies. It would seem an easy tweak to an algorithm to sort that problem. So clicking on tweets to see if anyone is engaging with something interesting is usually a bad experience.

Obviously the problems of replies to a tweet or post one has made oneself is a slightly different issue and one that I presume lots of high profile people suffer from.

Although this message board will continue during the period of the boycott, it will not be acceptable to post any links on the board from any social media sites, and that includes YouTube.

Bizarrely, The Sun is joining in... The same paper that spent ages hounding Raheem Sterling and reporting on everything he did whilst disapproving of it.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:38 pm

Bizarrely, The Sun is joining in... The same paper that spent ages hounding Raheem Sterling and reporting on everything he did whilst disapproving of it.

I don't quite get the link to that, and what is being protested against this weekend

Grumps wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:00 pm

I don't quite get the link to that, and what is being protested against this weekend

You haven’t heard about a boycott of social media this weekend because of continued racist abuse?