NCAA reports decline in online abuse related to sports betting during March Madness
The National Collegiate Athletic Association hired Signify Group to monitor messages.
US.- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has released analysis suggesting a drop in abuse directed at athletes during this year’s March Madness. A study of public comments on the online profiles of student-athletes, coaches, officials and committee members found 23 per cent less abuse than last year.
In 2024, Signify found that 42 per cent of social media abuse during March Madness directly targeted student-athletes. In 2025, the proporition fell to 15 per cent.
The NCAA’s analysis found that overall, abusive statements directed at people involved in the men’s tournament increased by 140 per cent, much of it directed at the selection committee and coaches — while abuse related to sports betting was down 36 per cent. On the women’s tournment, abuse was down 83 per cent and betting-related abuse declined 66 per cent.
The study was conducted by Signify, which used both artificial intelligence and human analysts to monitor social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok and, when necessary, report comments to law enforcement.
NCAA president Charlie Baker said: “One of the first things student-athletes told me when I became NCAA president was that they were being harassed online by people who are following or betting on their games. From day one, it’s been a priority to study this issue, monitor the public interactions, protect student-athletes and allow them to focus on being students and competing at the highest level on the court with their teammates.”
Jonathan Hirshler, Signify Group’s CEO, said: “We have been encouraged to record a reduction in sports betting-related abuse and threat at the 2025 event, as this is often the trigger for the most egregious and threatening content we detect. By supporting the NCAA in demonstrating that abusers can be identified and will be reported to law enforcement — where criminal thresholds are broken — it is possible to see a deterrent effect in play. We are proud to support the NCAA in this crucial space and will continue to expand the layers of protection available to its athlete and wider community, such as DM support, in the months ahead.”
This year, the NCAA launched its “Don’t Be a Loser” campaign, which aimed to reduce student-athlete centered abuse.
