By Graham Smith, NSPCC CPSU Safeguarding Training and Development Consultant for Wales
Managing social media for a sports organisation is not just about engagement and promotion; it's also about ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.
In this blog Graham talks about some best practices to help you manage and safeguard your social media presence effectively.
The blog includes:
- Why is safeguarding social media important?
- 8 best practices for social media safety
- Further online safety resources and NSPCC support
Why is safeguarding social media important?
For the past decade, I have created safeguarding content and helped sport media teams develop effective safeguarding strategies and resources. I have also advised National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport in Wales on safe social media engagement and supporting young people and parents in responsible use.
I recognise that for sport safeguarding professionals who are using social media to promote their clubs or athletes, social media can be a scary and confusing place: it changes all the time, there seem like hundreds of possible risks, thousands of different platforms you could use and the social noise it can create can be overwhelming.
It’s important to recognise that managing social media for a sports organisation is not just about engagement and promotion; it's also about ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.
According to Statista, 54 million people in the UK use social media, which is 79 percent (79%) of the population. And 87 percent (87%) of children aged 12-15 have a social media profile in the UK.
In 2023/24 there were almost 2,900 NSPCC Childline counselling sessions about online harm and safety or online sexual abuse and exploitation.
8 best practices for social media safety
Here are some best practices to help you manage and safeguard your social media presence effectively.
1. Complete risk assessments for social media
Before setting up a social media channel, you need to conduct a risk assessment to fully explore the platform and the potential risks of using it. Some of the most popular platforms, such as WhatsApp or X, may feel like the best option to reach a broad audience, but they also may pose the largest safeguarding risks. Without carrying out a thorough risk assessment, you could potentially expose your organisation, your staff and your children and young people to harm and abuse.
2. Set up clear online safety guidance and policies
Develop social media and online safety policies that outline acceptable behaviour, use of images and video, privacy settings, and content standards. You should ensure all staff, volunteers and participants are aware of these guidelines. This helps prevent inappropriate content and interactions.
3. Use social media consent forms
Always remember to gain consent from parents, carers, children and young people whenever you ask for, store and process personal data and sensitive information. This includes information for social media platforms. By using the correct type of social media consent form and a photography consent form, you can make sure that you are following the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Whether you’re using closed groups or public pages, always make sure that you have permission for the data that you are using.
4. Check activity regularly
Regularly check your social media channels for any signs of inappropriate behaviour, bullying or harassment. It’s good practice to ensure that at least two members of your staff have access to your social media accounts, and that they’re suitably trained. There are also tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social that can help you keep an eye on comments, messages, and mentions. Make sure that you address any issues that crop up quickly to keep a safe online environment.
5. Educate and train your team
Provide training for staff and volunteers on safeguarding practices specific to social media. It’s vital that everyone can recognise what images are right for use and which ones may be subject to misuse. Staff and volunteers also need to understand, signs of online abuse, how privacy settings work and know how to respond to, report and deal with any concerns.
Continuous professional development (CPD) around online safety can help everyone better understand how to handle safeguarding issues effectively.
6. Promote positive engagement
Encourage positive and respectful communication on your social media platforms. Highlight and celebrate good behaviour, sportsmanship and community support. Creating a positive online culture helps deter negative behaviour and promote a supportive and inclusive environment.
7. Use privacy settings wisely
Use privacy settings to control who can see and engage with your content. This includes setting up filters for comments and messages, restricting access to certain posts and managing follower lists. Protecting personal information and limiting exposure to potential risks is crucial. Don’t forget to always keep your apps up to date, use complex passwords and check privacy settings regularly.
8. Respond to concerns as soon as you are able
Have a clear process in place for responding to safeguarding concerns on social media. This process should set out who to contact, how to document incidents and the steps to take to resolve issues. Think of your online space as an extension of your club or organisation; how you deal with issues raised online reflects how seriously you take welfare and safety.
By putting these best practices in place, you'll feel more confident and be better equipped to manage social media in a way that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.
Let's work together to create a safe and supportive online environment for our sports community.
