The digital sideline: Exploring cyberbullying and online hate by people connected to children’s sports
‘The digital sideline: Exploring cyberbullying and online hate by people connected to children’s sports’ report is part of a series from eSafety’s ‘Keeping Kids Safe Online’ survey. It details findings on the experiences of cyberbullying and online hate among children aged 10 to 17 in Australia, where the person or people responsible were connected to their sporting activities.
The report draws on data from a nationally representative survey of 3,454 children aged 10 to 17 years living in Australia, conducted between December 2024 and February 2025. A subset of this data, comprising responses from 1,972 children aged 10 to 17 who had taken part in organised sporting activities outside of school time, was examined to identify the incidence of cyberbullying and online hate by people connected to children’s sport. (See our Methodology Report.)
Key findings
18%
of children aged 10 to 17 who had participated in organised sporting activities had been cyberbullied by someone connected to their sport.
Children who had been cyberbullied by someone connected to their sports told us it had happened to them via the following channels:
- Messaging, group chats or calls (59%).
- Comments or posts either on their own social media or on someone else’s social media (36%).
- Online video games or associated forums (23%).
- Comments or posts on online platforms run by their sports team or club (18%).
They also told us that the following people were responsible:
- A teammate or someone in another team (66%).
- Another child who watches or follows their team/sport (20%).
- A coach, trainer, instructor or referee of their team or another team (20%).
- A parent, caregiver or family member of a teammate or opponent (19%).
- An adult who watches or follows their team/sport (16%).
6%
children aged 10 to 17 who had participated in organised sporting activities had experienced online hate by someone connected to their sport.
Children who had been targeted with online hate by someone connected to their sports told us it had happened to them via the following channels:
- Messaging, group chats or calls (57%).
- Comments or posts either on their own social media or on someone else’s social media (48%).
- Comments or posts on online platforms run by their sports team or club (32%).
- Online video games or associated forums (29%).
They also told us that the following people were responsible:
- A teammate or someone in another team (50%).
- A coach, trainer, instructor or referee of their team or another team (35%).
- A parent, caregiver or family member of a teammate or opponent (33%).
- An adult who watches or follows their team/sport (28%).
- Another child who watches or follows their team/sport (20%).
Download the report
Helpful resources
eSafety’s Sports hub has online safety advice and resources for sports administrators, coaches officials, competitors and sports parents, to help make sure everyone in sport has more positive experiences online.
eSafety’s Parents section also has information and advice for parents and carers about helping children stay safe online.
eSafety’s Kids and Young People sections provide useful information to help children and young people stay safe online.
Last updated: 18/05/2026