How Bullying on Social Media Affects an Athlete’s Mental Game
When fans watch players perform on the football pitch or in high-level competitions, they often get caught up in the excitement of the game they are watching. It’s easy for fans to forget that their favorite athletes are human.
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Previously, a fan would make a passing comment to their friends that a particular player or the team wasn’t doing well in no uncertain terms and vent their frustration that way. Today, fans can express themselves on social networks, and some aren’t shy about saying what they think about a player’s performance.
Online “Keyboard Courage” Turns to Harassment
The problem is that with online access comes a particular brand of “keyboard courage.” When people feel free to post things online about others, they would never have enough nerve to walk up to the same person and say it to them directly. The poster may feel that they are simply expressing their opinion, however, their comments can quickly cross the line into insults and harassment.
Pressure to Perform Can Start Early
For some athletes, the pressure they place on performing well starts long before they reach the top levels. Highly talented young athletes with several years of development ahead of them struggle with their mental health, and there is pressure on these young “stars” to succeed. At the same time, youth soccer is much more intensive than it was in the past, and it isn’t just a game for young athletes anymore.
Young soccer players struggle with their mental health for several reasons:
Injuries
It’s part of the game to get injured and go through the recovery process. Younger players may see this process as something that will make them lose their “edge” and eventually lead to burnout. A demanding schedule of practices and games may not give players time to take mental breaks from playing to refocus.
Pressure from Others
Coaches and parents single out star players, and these players are expected to perform at a top-level every time. These young players may also have the burden of leadership thrust upon them to be an example to their teammates.
Player’s Own Expectations
Players may develop their dreams of playing professionally at some point. If they hit a peak in their abilities as they mature, they may become anxious and disappointed as their dreams become less likely to come to fruition.
Online Toxicity Exacerbates the Problem
The problem with online bullying is that the object of the toxic comments cannot avoid. Unlike mean playground taunts, they follow players everywhere. It’s on their phones, in private messages, on blog posts, on websites, and on social media. Once the toxic content gets started, there isn’t anywhere a player can go online to get away from it.
Athletes feel vulnerable if they feel they aren’t performing at their best. Their coaches and those close to them may already be talking about their performance. Fans following them online (65% of sports fans watch videos and games on their smartphones) add their take on the situation by attacking the athlete personally and doing nothing to improve the situation. It would be impossible not to take these types of comments personally, and they hurt and can have a significant impact on an athlete’s confidence and self-esteem.
Athletes can’t simply turn off their social media accounts to avoid the possibility of being exposed to potential toxicity. Social media is an essential vehicle for athletes to connect with fans, which means they don’t want to completely go off the online radar.
Bodyguard Protects Athletes from Toxicity Online
Bodyguard is a moderation solution developed for use with social media and online platforms for the prevention of toxic content. It is an effective tool for protecting athletes and the online community from hateful comments in real-time. When Bodyguard is in place, it gives you the advantage of smart moderation to ensure that only neutral or supportive are posted.
Remember that 40% of social media users disengage from a platform after being confronted with content considered toxic. Our goal at Bodyguard is not to discourage fans from sharing opinions and being passionate about their sport. Instead, we want to encourage everyone to show an appropriate amount of respect and avoid posting toxic content.