Social Media And Mental Health Of College Athletes

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Social Media Pressure and Mental Health of College Athletes: Literature Review
The rise of social media has transformed the way people communicate and interact with one another. In recent years, social media has become an integral part of college athletes' lives, providing them with a platform to connect with fans, share their experiences, and build their personal brands. The popularity of social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat among college athletes has grown exponentially. 87% of Division I student-athletes reported using social media, with Instagram and Twitter being the most popular platforms (NCAA, 2021). The prevalence of social media among college athletes has prompted discussions about the impact it has on their …show more content…

Dickey (2013) explores the underlying belief that fans are allowed to set standards to athletes, and if they are not met, fans feel justified to send hate messages. This paper aims to explore the studies behind social media and mental health in college athletes, with a specific focus on the case of Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles, who experienced intense social media backlash after missing a field goal during their playoff game versus Georgia that would have sent his team to the national championship. Brougham (2021) examines the impact of social media on the mental health of student-athletes in her journal article “The impact of social media on the mental health of student-athletes.” She discusses the potential negative effects of social media use, such as increased anxiety, depression, and stress. The article also explores the factors that may contribute to the negative effects of social media on student-athletes, including public scrutiny, performance pressure, and the comparison to others. During a football game between the University of Alabama and Auburn University in 2013, the …show more content…

(2021). The impact of social media on the mental health of student-athletes.
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Dickey, J. (2013). When trolls attack: True stories of athletes and their online antagonists. Retrieved from Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/extramustard/2013/12/06/athletes-twitter-trolls

Ellemers, N., Spears, R., & Doosje, B. (2002). Self and social identity. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 161–186.

NCAA. (2021). Social Media Best Practices for Student-Athletes. Retrieved from https://www.ncaa.org/social-media-best-practices-student-athletes

Sanderson, J. (2018). Thinking twice before you post: Issues student-athletes face on social media. New Directions for Student Services, 2018(163), 81–92. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20272

Sanderson, Jimmy & Truax, C.. (2014). I hate you Man!': Exploring maladaptive parasocial interaction expressions to college athletes via Twitter. Journal of Issues in