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Linda Cerruti and cyberbullying: «Sexist comments on social networks must be denounced»

The news is from a few weeks ago. The Police have identified and reported to the Judicial Authority 12 of the perpetrators of the defamation via the internet against the synchronized swimming champion, Linda Ceruti. The athlete had posted photos in costume receiving offensive comments “clearly defamatory and sexist”. The image is that of August 2022 after the synchronized swimming European Championships where she had won eight medals.

Linda Cerruti did not let it go and did not remove the image, she denounced and invites everyone to do so also as a testimonial of #cuoriconnessi, the project to raise awareness against cyberbullying born in 2016 by Unieuro in collaboration with the State Police which every year involves thousands of students, parents and teachers. “We need to help people denounce and speak up. After my complaint I received messages from people who did not know the existence of the Postal Police, awareness projects are needed », explains the swimmer.

How did the photo come about?
«That image was born in 2018 together with a photographer friend, who returned from the European Championships with 7 medals, all bronze and two silver. That pose was that of my first ever single in 2010 in the national team and I carry it in my heart. This year in Rome I won 8 medals, all silver and two bronze, and it seemed nice to propose the pose again».

So there hadn’t been a reaction?
«No and it hasn’t happened to me for other posts. Also this time under my post there were only positive comments from my followers. When the photo was taken up by various newspapers to celebrate the victories and the comments arrived there ».

Didn’t you expect it?
«No, it was my first days of vacation and I didn’t notice anything: it was a friend who pointed them out to me by taking some screenshots».

Was the decision to report immediate?
«I thought about what to do: publish a new post and report or only report. I’m followed by many girls and girls who take me as an example and I was sorry to show certain comments on my post. In the end I decided to publish it to be taken as an example in this too: with the complaint. It should not be considered a normal thing to write certain comments on social media ».

Didn’t you think about removing the photo?
“That would have been the wrong reaction. For me that is a sports pose, whoever made those comments didn’t even know what artistic swimming was. For me that photo is the demonstration of the celebration of my effort and my victories, it is certainly not a butt and two legs ».

His choice would still have been to report.
«Apart from the example, I would still have denounced primarily for myself. I don’t feel defined by those comments and those words. For me, sport is synonymous with healthy values ​​and principles and must be far from those comments. For all the people who follow me then it was right to denounce so that the message that we were faced with a situation and with normal words did not pass. Having these comments shouldn’t be the price to pay for being on social media.”

Who did you receive support from?
“From many ordinary people, from personalities from the world of entertainment and sports, from the Postal Police who are the first I have to thank for having found these 12 people and demonstrating that anonymity does not exist on social networks”.

The body of sportswomen is often exposed. Have you ever heard the sexism that appears in those comments?
«Personally not, but other sportswomen told me that the same thing had happened to them too. I hope that the complaint has been useful for the girls because they don’t let it pass if they receive comments like that and also because those who sit in front of the keyboard think three hundred times before writing certain things”.

Did being a sportswoman help you decide to report?
«Sport forges, strengthens and helps to be stubborn and stubborn. I posted a photo, I received those comments, I didn’t remove, I decided to report. Through social media I will continue to promote and make my sport known as I have always done”.

#heartsconnected is today a national reference platform full of information and educational content: a dedicated YouTube channel, the site connectedhearts.it, a series of documentary films and a series of books with the testimonies of girls and boys on the dangers and opportunities of the online universe. Content available totally free of charge and also presented in today’s event for Safer Internet Day.

“The collaboration with the State Police makes us deeply proud,” he comments Giancarlo Nicosanti Monterastelli, CEO of Unieuro“because it allows us to address extremely delicate issues with the common desire to create greater awareness of the web and all those devices that are increasingly part of our daily life and helps us to promote responsible use of technology open to confrontation against all discrimination”.

More stories from Vanity Fair that may interest you:

– The conduct vote against bullying? “It will not work”

– The educator: «Less homework for the holidays? I’d just abolish them.”

Source: Vanity Fair

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