NBL partners with Social Protect to safeguard players online

The National Basketball League (NBL) and Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) alongside Basketball Australia (BA) today announced a new partnership with Social Protect, an online safety platform helping athletes, teams and organisations protect themselves from social media abuse and harmful online interactions.

Social Protect will become the official Online Safety Partner of the NBL and WNBL, providing players, coaches and officials with access to tools and education designed to monitor, detect and delete online harassment and abuse across social platforms.

Social Protect’s real-time platform automatically identifies and removes abusive comments across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Discord by tracking over two million abusive words and phrases in more than 100 languages. It also provides individuals with a “Quarantine Zone” to review removed comments and escalate serious threats to league officials and or law enforcement when needed.

Users can also create custom keywords and set filtering controls to tailor protections around personal preferences. The platform’s Education Hub further equips athletes with practical resources to strengthen digital security, manage privacy and engage positively online. Social Protect creates a safe space for fans to engage.

David Stevenson, NBL Group CEO, said the partnership reinforces the league’s commitment to player well-being and inclusion across all levels of the game.

“The well-being of our players and the wider basketball community is always our highest priority. Partnering with Social Protect allows us to proactively address one of the biggest challenges facing athletes today and provide real, tangible protection from online abuse. It’s a partnership that reflects our values as a league: inclusion, respect, and care for the people who make our sport what it is.”

Jennie Sager, WNBL CEO, said creating an online environment where athletes, especially female athletes, can express themselves knowing they have strong, proactive support behind them is important.

“Female athletes are targeted with nearly 20% more online abuse than their male peers, and 85% say it impacts their well-being. That’s a reality we refuse to ignore. Our partnership with Social Protect is a decisive step in standing up for our players. It gives them the tools, protection and confidence they deserve, so they can own their voice online, and not be silenced by those hiding behind keyboards.”

Matt Scriven, CEO of Basketball Australia added, “The safety and wellbeing of everyone in our basketball community, especially children and young people is our highest priority. Basketball Australia’s Safe Sport Framework sets a clear standard in that abuse, harm and neglect have no place in our sport on the court or online. This partnership with Social Protect reinforces that standard by giving athletes at all levels real protection against online abuse and a safer environment to participate, connect and grow.”

Shane Britten, Founder and CEO of Social Protect, said, “Basketball brings people together, and social media should do the same. We’re proud to help the NBL and WNBL take a stand for player safety by creating digital spaces where athletes can connect with fans, share their stories and play their part in the community, free from the toxicity that too often shadows sport. This partnership is about empowering every player to feel safe, supported and in control online.”

The partnership extends across the NBL, WNBL and NBL1 competitions, ensuring athletes, coaches and referees throughout the NBL Group ecosystem are supported through Social Protect’s cutting-edge monitoring and well-being technology.