Tip of the Month - November 2024

This article has been modified by Coach Schloder

Social Media and Student-Athletes

Ongoing research on social media access has led to debates about its negative or positive effects on children and youth. We do know that they are addicted to their gadgets! In another newsletter, we will discuss potentially harmful influences reported by medical experts.

Dr. Carron Sumler, TrueSports, Colorado Springs, TrueSport Expert and Assistant Director of Sport Psychology and Wellness Services at Ohio State University, has this to say from a different perspective.

… According to the Pew Research Center, about 60 percent of teens use Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, while about 93 percent use YouTube. For many young people, social media is a way of developing and sharing their identities – sometimes with communities they otherwise would not be able to access…

… This means that for parents, it’s helpful to look at social media as a part of their athlete’s life and think about ways to make their relationship with these online platforms a healthy one rather than view social media as a problem or an app that should be deleted. I’d love for parents to think about how we can support an athlete’s identity development through social media rather than trying to fight its usage…

She explores the positive and negative ways social media impacts athlete identity and how we can help athletes navigate these tricky spaces.  

Pro: Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Preparation

It’s impossible to talk about youth athletes on social media without addressing the updated NIL rules that allow student-athletes to monetize themselves as personal brands. Social media is a large driver of these NIL deals, and athletes with popular social platforms are undeniably advantaged in this space. Developing a personal brand on social media means that your athlete is strategically thinking about how they want to be seen and honing their identity in a purposeful way. While it’s crucial not to commoditize a young athlete, if they do continue to play sports in college and beyond, it’s likely that they will be expected to engage with social media, which can be challenging if they haven’t been allowed to develop an online presence and identity earlier.

Con: Lack of ‘Likes’ Can Be Harmful to Self-Esteem

Not only do athletes worry about feedback from teammates and coaches in real life, but now they also worry about how the entire world views them online. “Social media expedites the directness of feedback or lack of feedback that you get about your sport,” says Sumler. An athlete posting videos of their skills on the soccer field hoping to catch the eye of college recruiters or potential brand sponsors may be thrilled by positive feedback. Still, it’s just as likely that they either won’t get the views they’re hoping for or may even receive negative commentary.

Pro: Access to Broader Communities

Your athlete is much more than a soccer player, wrestler, or track star. They’re multifaceted humans with many different identities, some of which they won’t see represented in their school or local communities. For many athletes, online communities have become safe spaces to explore new identities and feel less alone, says Sumler. This is particularly true for athletes who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

Con: Increased Comparison

Social media has made it so that athletes are no longer comparing themselves to teammates or their direct competitors, and they’re now able to compare themselves to thousands of athletes worldwide. This can sometimes be channeled positively, says Dr. Sumler, but often, it can cause an adverse reaction as the athlete is constantly presented with other athletes who are doing more, are better or faster. This can cause the athlete to decrease their self-belief since they’re bombarded with (often heavily edited) images and videos of other seemingly better athletes.

Pro: Ability to Learn from Other Athletes’ Examples

While comparison can be problematic, seeing other athletes on social media can often be inspiring, says Sumler. Many young athletes can now find role models who motivate them and teach them new skills and ways of viewing the sport. Athletes like Simone Biles are also on social media speaking about mental health, which helps reduce stigma and create support networks. In many cases, these athletes can help your athlete better understand some of the challenges that they’re going through and potentially help them develop a healthier relationship with themselves and their sport.

Con: Your Social Media May Impact Your Athlete’s Sense of Self

Finally, how parents represent athletes on their social media platforms can impact athletes' identities. Many parents are now active on Instagram and Facebook and often share photos and updates of their young athletes. While this may seem innocuous and innocent, it can influence how your athlete sees themself and how they view your relationship. As a proud parent, it’s natural to want to post when your athlete scores the game-winning goal. Dr. Sumler notes that athletes may see that post and feel the parent only mentions them on social media when scoring a goal or winning a game. This can leave an athlete feeling like achieving wins is the only way to win your respect, attention, or admiration.

Conclusion:

“It’s important for parents to recognize their involvement in their child and how the whole family posts on and interacts with social media. “Aim to have open and regular conversations with your athlete and create a healthy relationship.” Social media has the power to enhance an athlete’s identity, whether it’s giving them training motivation, creating connections, or accessing new communities. However, it can also negatively impact an athlete’s identity due to the relentless opportunity for comparison and negative commentary. Barring teens from social media is no longer a helpful option, so caregivers can instead focus on helping athletes understand what parts of social media are and aren’t serving them.

Reference:

Sumler, C. (2024, November 1). Six ways social media impacts athlete identity. Colorado Sp.rings, CO: TrueSport. Mental Wellness, Trending.