Social Media and The Sports World

I am an avid sports fan, and I love knowing as much information about my favorite teams and players as possible. In fact, I usually watch SportsCenter a few times a day to the point where I could actually be an anchor on the show myself. But over the last year, Twitter and Facebook have made it possible for fans like myself to be continuously updated about everything in the sports world. Athletes have their own Twitter and Facebook pages, teams are jumping on the bandwagon, and even venues and events are joining the craze. It has gotten to the point where SportsCenter is even reporting on what players are say on their Twitter pages.

This shift in how information is being shared is having some major effects in the sports industry. Let’s look at a few of them:

Cutting the Media Out

The widespread use of Twitter and Facebook has changed the way news is reported in the sports industry. Traditionally, the media served as an intermediary between the sports world and fans, controlling what information is shared and how it is conveyed. With the widespread use of Twitter, players and teams are bypassing the middleman and communicating directly with fans.

Creating More Personal Connections

With professional sports players using Twitter and Facebook more and more, they are not only reaching more fans; but also creating a deeper connection with them. Fans learn what a player does and say, “Hey, I do that too! These guys aren’t so different from me after all.” This deeper connection creates a stronger loyalty among fans and greater exposure for the players.

Totally New Ideas and Developments

Twitter and Facebook have also opened up new possibilities in the sports world. For example, www.spitter.com is a site similar to Twitter but just used solely by professional sports teams. Colleges have even begun connecting with recruits and offering scholarships via Facebook during no-contact periods.

Now that I am more familiar with Social Media and how the sporting world is utilizing it, I don’t have to sit down at my TV to watch SportsCenter for hours at a time to get my daily dose of everything sports. As social media evolves over time, so too will how the sports industry utilizes it.