Exploring the Positives and Negatives of Olympians on Social Media

By jj Foster -

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics unfolded, and it was one for the books. Over the years, no one has gotten such a close inside scoop on what exactly happens at the Olympic Village, what an average day-in-the-life of an olympian looks like, and more. However, this year, people all over the world got an inside scoop of all the details regarding day-to-day life, food, workouts, events, and more through the social media platforms of the Olympians. But is it a double-edged sword?

The five Olympic circles

Olympians Have Mixed Feelings About Social Media

During the Olympic Games, many athletes felt the need to delete their social media accounts for a brief time to properly prepare. Caeleb Dressel, an American swimmer, mentioned that he’s not on Instagram at the moment, while Dutch cyclist Anemiek Van Vleuten also said that she had taken a break from social media.

However, other Olympians are craving the social connection. Many athletes have stayed connected through Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter during their time in Tokyo. Some have realized how powerful social media can be in terms of personal brand-building and more. Gold medalist Sunisa Lee reached 1 million followers on Instagram within only 24-hours of winning the all-around title for women’s gymnastics.

Some athletes have also expressed how dangerous social media can be. Simon Biles spoke about the overwhelming amount of pressure and weight of the world that she is feeling based on what others think about her and her performances. These mixed feelings brought up the question of whether social media is a double-edged sword.

The Positives and Negatives

Like with practically everything, there are both positives and negatives. The positives of social media can include the numerous opportunities that become available to one person, including the Olympians.

Olympians at the 2020 Tokyo Games take selfies during the opening and closing ceremonies.
Christina Clemons competed in the 100-meter hurdle at the U.S. Olympic Trials and tweeted to her 5,000 followers shortly after to tweet at Doritos since she had worn Cool Ranch Doritos earrings during her race. After almost 27,000 likes, Doritos signed Clemons on to do an endorsement deal and made a custom Cool Ranch chips bag with her face on it.

The negatives surrounding social media come from the beliefs that it’s bad for mental health, especially for Olympians who are already dealing with large amounts of pressure and stress. Social media can unravel negative senses of self-worth, insults from anonymous parties, and lead to a depressive cycle. Social media abuse is real, and it affects more people than it seems.