Racism. Scenario 2 of 14. Abuse of a stranger

The comments underneath

A young Black footballer misses a penalty in a big match. Within minutes his latest post is filling up with racist comments and monkey emojis.

You are scrolling through them, feeling sick.

What is the best call?

Screenshot the worst ones and share them, to show people how bad it is.

Could be better

You mean to expose it, and awareness does matter. But sharing spreads the abuse further, including to people it hurts. If you want to speak out, say what you think without repeating what they wrote.

Reply to the abusers and argue with them.

Could be better

Your instinct to push back is right. But replies push those comments up where more people see them, and the people writing them are not there to be persuaded. Reporting takes them down. Arguing keeps them up.

Report the comments to the platform, and leave a message of support for the player.

Good call

Reports are how abuse gets removed and accounts get banned. A supportive comment is one more thing he and other Black fans see that is not hate. Racist abuse online can be a crime, and football abuse can be reported to Kick It Out.

Scroll on. He is rich and famous, and there is nothing you can do.

Not the best call

Money does not make it hurt less, and he is not the only one reading. Every Black child who follows him sees those comments too. A report takes ten seconds and is the thing that removes them.

The principle

When you see racist abuse online, do not amplify it and do not feed it. Report it, and add your voice to the support, so the abuse is not the only thing people see.

If this has happened to you, or you have seen it

These UK services are free to use. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.

Stop Hate UKSupport for anyone affected by hate crime, and a way to report it without going to the police.
True VisionThe police website for reporting hate crime online.
Victim SupportFree, confidential support after a crime, whether or not you report it.
Citizens AdviceWhat counts as discrimination, and what you can do about it.
AcasFree advice on discrimination and your rights at work.
Kick It OutReport racism and other discrimination in football, at a ground or online.
SamaritansSomeone to talk to, day or night, about anything.