Hines 1 Caleb Hines Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1102 September 25, 2013 Is Social Media Acceptable for

Professional Athletes? Its been both mentally and physically taxing, but it was worth it, a tweet from an upcoming NFL superstar, Robert Griffin III, giving an update to his fans on his rehabilitation for his reconstructed ACL and MCL. Although most people see twitter (or any social media site) as a way to express their opinions, this athlete utilizes it as a way to update people on his rehabilitation and lets his fan know whats going on. This tweet would therefore fall into the category of information sharing. Information sharing is not the only category. For instance, a post on Facebook from Lance Armstrong asked fans to join him on an adventurous bike ride falls into a different category of interactivity. Almost 1000 fans showed up to connect with the biker. In addition to information sharing and interactivity, there are four other categories used to describe the ways athletes use social media, such as fanship, diversion, promotion, and content. However, not every athlete uses social media in an acceptable and practical way; Michael Beasley, a NBA forward, posted a picture of himself smoking marijuana with a couple of his high school friends. This type of interface begs the question on whether or not professional athletes should be able to use social media sites; whether or not it should be under their own control or under the control of a press team, or if social media sites should be used by athletes at all.

Hines 2 The six categories describing the use of social media was a study of content analysis of 1,962 random posts from professional athletes. The interactivity category showed that 34% of the posts were from different athletes talking amongst one another. Diversion, meaning not involving sports-related topics, took up 28%. Very few of the posts (15%) involved Information Sharing, players chat about their own teams or sports. (or players chatting about their own teams or sports.) Another 10% fell into the category of content. Content is information and experiences that may provide value for an audience. In addition, only 8% covered how the professionals are giving props to another team other than their own. The last 5% of the posts were promotional in nature, indicating that professional athletes may not be taking advantage of the promotional opportunities social media may provide. This study provided the world with an insight of how professional athletes are using these sites. There are approximately 7838 professional athletes who pose a twitter and as social media is becoming more popular, the number of athletes using twitter is growing by the day. Due to the popularity of social media, professional athletes are starting to utilize social media to connect with fans and share their personal lives in ways they never could before. Many bystanders to the professionals believe this could be beneficial in so many ways and not only limited to the professional, but even help the sports organization that athlete participates in. The word beneficial in this sense means to basically bring a good name to oneself and producing good or helpful effects. Some of the top players continuously check their twitter to interact with fans about sports, religion, and major topics in the news. For example, Kevin Durant, one of the NBAs most promised stars, tweeted about the terrorist attacks on 9/11and how they will never be forgotten. Kevin Durant also frequently answers questions from his fans. This gives him a better fan base because it allows people to see him without being on a pedestal. This proves the

Hines 3 fact that the involvement of professional athletes in social media increases their fan base a great deal, a point made by people who agree on the debatable topic of professional athletes engaging themselves in social media. Take a star like Kevin Garnett, who isnt really involved in social media, and compare him to Dwight Howard. Kevin Garnett has had a better career but yet a ring lacking Dwight Howard has better endorsement deals and a bigger fan base. This is because the cost-to-creativity ratio, meaning the players cost to advertise is cheaper and easier due to the involvement in social media, and the ability to expand reach to his engaged audience makes him more marketable athlete through 525,000 fans on Facebook and 1.5 million followers on twitter. According to an article by Ben Pickering, a digital and social executive for SoMedia Networks wrote an article, "Athletes and Social Media: Untapped Goldmine or PR Landmine? He argues there shouldnt even be a debate, because the positives outweigh negatives by a long shot. With the benefits attached to the use of social media, how could an individual not agree with a professional athlete using social media? Although, there are many advantages to professional athletes using social media, but there can be some harmful effects and in the worst cast scenario ruin someones career. Twitter can be dangerous to an athletes career and his image responds Michael McKnight, a sports illustrated publisher. . youre career can turn for the worst in a split second all because of something posted on social media.(McKnight) In the statement he was referring to Will Hill. For instant, Will Hill went undrafted and wasnt picked up by any NFL team during free agency because of tweets promoting the use of sexual activity and marijuana. For three years, Hill had to play arena football before the New York Giants finally gave him a spot on their 53-player roster. Another tweet by triple jumper, Voula Papachristian, got her removed from the Olympic Games in 2012. The racist tweet toward African descendants read With so many Africans in Greece,

Hines 4 the West Nile mosquitoes will be getting home food!!! These types of incidents are the prime example of why this is a debatable topic. Many argue the fact that athletes believe they live above the regular society of people and can say whatever they feel without punishment. Athletes are being watched by everything and when using a social media site they have to refrain from saying things an average person could. This may not be fair for professional but with news reporters fighting to make stories, anything can be flipped and twisted to make it sound way different then what it was actually intended. This necessarily doesnt out way the positives given out of a professional athlete using social media, but it does put up a good and successful argument. David Carter, head of the USC Sports Business Institute believes more recognition can be given to mediocre players in Yankees' Swisher Takes Center Stage. In his article he quoted the mid-level player with personality and social-media savvy can reach endorsement and name-recognition levels that were once only the domain of the best of the best.(Carter). The smaller names, in the sense of sports, never have the ability to gain endorsements or fans because, they are not as well known as the bigger names. If the smaller names were the only ones permitted to use social media; it could give these guys the ability to gain fans and the endorsements. Mr. Carter believed the use of social media could possibly even the playing field for the smaller names. Given the evidence shown in the previous paragraphs it shows the complexity of this topic. There are different reactions and many have their own opinions. Some players may not make the best decisions, but we are all humans at the end of the day. Mistakes are going to be made and the athletes have to learn from them. We all are entitled to the first amendment in

Hines 5 American and that should not be taken away no matter the cause. With that being said why shouldnt athletes be able to use social media?

Hines 6 Sharoyal Brown I think your topic is very interesting and I like where youre going with your paper. The introduction is engaging and it caught my attention immediately. Your questions are engaging and your facts are also interesting and impressive. Be sure to cite your sources on the statistical information and also when you mention the six categories. You used great examples to both sides (the advantages and disadvantages of athletes using social media.) However, be careful in becoming to redundant or saying the same things. I think if you read it over, youll see what I mean by that. This topic is very complex and I think youve done great research and youve gathered a lot of evidence for your points, which is good. I think youre meeting the assignments goal; however, its hard to tell whether the essay is argumentative or exploratory in some parts but at the end it comes together by you stating your belief about the issue. I think you could be more persuasive in your argument being that the example you used for the opposing side is so intense. Also, I think you should work some of your own commentary into the essay before the conclusion. How has the outlooks of the athletes and sports publisher proved your point? Has any tweets by athletes motivated you personally or impacted you in any way? How do you think they impact others? Other than that, your composition looks correct and the only thing missing is the works cited page. Also the things I highlighted and put in parenthesis are places where I think your wording could be rephrased. I think youre off to a great start!