Rocky Topics: Is social media bad for sports?

Co-written by Dalton King

This week on Rocky Topics, staff writer Dalton King and David Bradford discuss whether social media has helped or hurt sports following Florida defensive back Jalen Tabor’s twitter jabs at the University of Tennessee.

King: Social media has most definitely helped sports. It has created a 24/7 connection between news, sports, players and fans. If anything, Jalen Tabor’s tweets about Tennessee have intensified the rivalry between the Volunteers and the Gators. So yes, it not only helps everyone be connected at all times, but it helps create some extra tension, hopefully creating a higher level of competition.

Bradford: I agree with you 100 percent that the connection between athletes and fans is greater than ever. However, I believe social media has damaged sports. Part of it has to do with the players misusing social media, while the other half has to do with the fans’ reaction to social media posts. Look at LeBron James. Everything he does on social media is scrutinized to a ridiculous extent. It just creates an unnecessary distraction for players because people often over-analyze. And then sometimes, athletes say some dumb things that get them in trouble. The media is the best way to connect fans and athletes because there is a “professional” buffer. Social media doesn’t provide that.

King: I agree that athletes abuse social media at times, but overall, I think it is a good thing for sports. Just look at how athletes use their social media platform for good. Without having to professionally go through the media, athletes can send out quick messages. Athletes have a huge platform and are constantly looked to as spokesmen in our culture. They have a powerful voice and social media gives them the ability to share it in a timely manner. Yes, their posts can be over-analyzed, causing unnecessary conflict, but I think the good outweighs the bad here. Social media is an important aspect of culture today and I think the way athletes utilize it is great for sports.

Bradford: I see where you are coming from. But there are other platforms an athlete can get a message across, especially without the limit of 140 characters on Twitter. Social media has created a culture detrimental to sports not simply from an athlete’s perspective, but from the fans as well. The way that every fan can now attack an athlete so publicly is troubling. Social media has made things largely negative, especially on Twitter, but at the end of the day, the connection to the athlete is easier to access, which is always a bonus. I just don’t really appreciate the social media culture around sports.

Featured image by Esther Vargas

Edited by Cody McClure