Athletes’ social networks can become a real cause of problems, not only with the psyche. Many followers express their dissatisfaction with the athlete’s failures in the comments under the posts. This creates negative pressure on the person, who can experience mental health problems in some situations. A study by Vivek Murthy published in the New York Times confirms the impact of social media on the mental health of people, not only athletes.
Betting and gambling
It’s no secret that sports betting has become quite popular, as has the iGaming industry as a whole. Its popularity in the US is so high that some experts are already discussing the need to ban such entertainment.
The situation in the U.S. is not unique. In neighboring Canada, iGaming has grown by tens of percent over the past five years. One of the reasons is a variety of bonuses and promotions. To understand this, our authors studied reviews published right here of the biggest bonuses at online casinos in Canada. These bonuses attract not only ordinary people to gambling but also sports figures. After all, betting can be banned by many sports federations.
Psychological pressure
Many sports federations already limit an athlete’s time on social media. This applies not only to athletes competing at the Olympic level but also to children involved in sports schools. From early childhood, the coaching staff instills certain habits in the younger generation. The problem is that public opinion can not only lower an athlete’s self-esteem but also negatively affect his health. If an athlete is competing in a tournament, they should avoid social media altogether.
It is best to see a psychologist if a person has any concerns or problems. Each team has its specialist ready to help at any time of the day. Parents, teammates, and coaches can also help in difficult situations. Athletes are advised not to hide anything from the coaching staff at all.
Online bullying
The most pressure is put on popular athletes. They have a large audience on social networks. There are bound to be users among the followers who will point out the athlete’s shortcomings, blunders, and failures.
Pressure can be related to more than just the sports career. Sexual orientation, gender, racial and ethnic bias—all of these can cause angry comments. Athletes deal with all of this on an almost daily basis. These psychological pressures impact athletic performance as well. The athlete cannot concentrate, leading to poor performance in the sport.
How can athletes protect themselves from pressure and negativity?
The first thing to do is set limits on the amount of time that can be spent on social media. It’s best to do it in the evening after training. If social media distracts from daily activities, it is best to avoid using it altogether. If an athlete faces uncomfortable questions at a press conference or in an interview, he or she has every right to refuse to answer.