The Impact of Social Media On Sports

Sporting events are not just games anymore, they are businesses. Professional athletes are not just players, they are brands.  One of the major contributors to this shift has been the use of social media in sports. Fans can now instantly connect with players and teams through Twitter and Facebook, creating a more personal relationship and an insider perspective for the fans.  Shaquille O'Neal is on Twitter with over 21,000 followers; followers who day in and day out can know what he is doing at any given moment. Not only is this beneficial for the fans, but it is also a way for players to build and promote themselves as a brand. Tweeting about their new shoe lines or making an update on their Facebook pages about where they'll be the next day to sign autographs, has allowed more room for the promotion of teams and players alike without the cost of expensive media campaigns. Social Media has made a major impact on how sports teams and players market themselves, their events, and their brands. Social Media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Blog sites have forever changed the way communication streams between fans and the players they love. It is now easier than ever to promote a team, a game, or a player. Our favorite pastimes have turned into a ring of global communication that no one predicted.

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