“Let’s Get Real”
The Role of Social Media for Athletes
Social media has evolved from a unique concept into an inescapable part of life, becoming an entrenched element of the human experience. It catapulted into society, growing from merely another means of contacting someone to captivating humanity. It now serves as a news outlet, a business tool, a job source, a resume, a media platform, and much more, with limitless capabilities. When delving deeper into analyzing the possible implications and ramifications of social media usage, it's impossible to ignore how young social media is. To put it in perspective, most of you reading this are older than social media. Twitter was founded less than 20 years ago, Instagram less than 15 years ago, and TikTok, which has taken the world by storm, has only been in existence for 6 years. As usage has increased tenfold, more than half of the world uses social media daily, and there isn't widespread data on the long-term implications that this may have on the mental well-being of humanity. Regarding the uniqueness of the student-athlete experience, it's challenging to deny the benefits of social media, as most athletes utilize it for brand management, NIL deals, and athletic promotion. However, there is a darker side to the athlete experience on social media. Athletes who heavily rely on their athletic identity may use social media as a means of validation to boost their egos and as a crutch for a false sense of self-confidence. Social media may unintentionally serve as a tool to heighten one's ability to compare their position in life with others who only showcase the positive aspects of their existence. Lastly, social media provides the opportunity for people to communicate things they wouldn't typically say in a physical setting, and because of this, many athletes, at all levels, face verbal attacks and threats for their performances or athletic involvement. Sadly, this has increased due to the prevalence of sports betting and will likely continue to do so, thanks to irresponsible and outlandish fans who care more about outcomes than people. While there are benefits to social media, the negative reality of it should not be ignored, especially for athletes, who experience a unique aspect of social media that non-athletes won't encounter. The accessible nature and ubiquitous presence of social media have disrupted the peace of the athlete experience, and this must be protected.
Athletes twenty years ago had the freedom of playing a game knowing that, no matter the outcome, they could go home and have time away from people to decompress without worrying about comments on their performance. This is no longer the case as athletes live in glass houses with direct exposure to cyberbullying and unfair criticism.
The student-athlete experience must be safeguarded, and while social media is now a part of our lives, coaches, parents, athletic administration, and peers must realize that they all play a part in developing strong, holistic cultures to mitigate the potentially negative effects of social media. We must emphasize other facets of athletes at a young age, letting them know that their identity lies in who they are, and not what they do. This will reduce comparison and the need for validation because you can't validate someone who doesn't need it to function, as they already see their own self-worth. We must communicate to student-athletes that the only people whose opinions about their performance should matter are themselves, their teammates, coaches, and family. As long as they did their best and gave their all for their team, they should ignore the negativity from "fans" and external sources, as their opinions should carry no weight. Players need to support and stand up for each other. Coaches and athletic administrators need to consistently demonstrate that they value their athletes beyond just their athletic capabilities to prevent lack of self-worth and potential ego-building. The culture of sports must evolve and adapt to withstand the challenges of social media, as it is now an integral element of the student-athlete experience and will only become more significant. It's time to be realistic and acknowledge that we all play a role in developing this culture for the protection and improvement of the student-athlete experience.
