SCOTLAND great James McFadden has given his backing to an initiative to educate youngsters about the dangers of online hate.

McFadden attended at a roadshow for Hope United, a programme that BT has launched with non-profit organisation Cybersmile in conjunction with the SFA, at Ainslie Park in Edinburgh yesterday.

The former Motherwell and Everton player, a Hope United ambassador, put on a football masterclass for children and gave a lesson on the importance of being kind online.

The 38-year-old, who now works as a pundit with the BBC and Sky Sports, is concerned about the growing problem of cyber bullying in society and believes the project is of vital importance.

Glasgow Times:

“This is educating the younger generation about how to be safe online, how to be aware of what constitutes abuse and what to do when you see it,” he said. 

“It is vital. We read and see the incidents of online abuse which are at the forefront of the media, but it’s the stuff that we can’t see, that is going on with kids particularly, that is really worrying.

“This is a brilliant initiative. It is about safeguarding them first and foremost. It is about educating them about the importance of social media and how it can be used as a tool to do good.

“But it is also about educating them about the dangers and the pitfalls of it and the affects it has.

“I have got four kids of my own and I make sure they are aware of the affects of social media, both good and bad.”

McFadden has been alarmed at the high-profile incidents of online abuse which Scotland’s footballers have suffered thinks initiatives like Hope United can help to address the problem. 
Glasgow Times:

“Getting stick on the pitch for how you are playing and online abuse are two different things,” he said. “When it becomes online abuse it is targeted.

“When you play a professional sport you accept people are going to be unhappy at times. But there is a lot of stuff that happens which you don’t see.

“There is now direct access to players online and a lot of things are said instantly. Sometimes players come off the pitch and find a whole load of abuse. It does become the norm.

“There are pressures and demands on young players coming into the game that you have to cope with. But when it crosses the line that is something that we all have to do something about.

“It is abusive. Players and people who are in the limelight are expected to be able to deal with everything that is thrown at them because fans pay their money, because they are on telly, because they are out there.

“But they are just people. They might have coping mechanisms, but they might have a way of hiding how they are truly feeling about it.

“Having a demand on your performance is totally different to being abused and bullied online. Raising the awareness of what is acceptable, what is unacceptable and how to deal with it is crucial. It is about trying to educate the younger generation.”

 

BT and Cybersmile’s modules are available to anyone at https://cybersmileeducation.org/roadshow/