Social media poison: A battlefield for athletes’ mental health
By Daniel Soriano
Beneath the glitz and glamour of success often lies a person grappling with a huge burden.
X or Instagram, with their unabated scrutiny, are sometimes a breeding ground for affliction among those whose triumphs are toasted without really considering the battles faced behind the scenes.
In the digital age, a worrisome truth has emerged: Athletes are increasingly vulnerable to online vitriol. US gymnast Simone Biles’ ordeal in Tokyo back in 2021 serves as a poignant reminder of the dark side of these platforms.
Whenever an athlete does something that doesn’t sit well with part of the public, their online reputation can be torn to shreds.
Social media, after all, is an extension of their job, a public inbox for anyone to use, and not all messages are positive.
Despite being a relatively new phenomenon—most social media platforms are less than 15 years old—these incidents have been steadily increasing: From the viral breakdancer Raygun’s bizarre show in Paris to former NBA player Kyle Singler seeking help last week with cryptic, shirtless messages in a dimly lit room. Indeed, countless athletes have been targeted by online trolls and simultaneously praised when they dared to admit they needed help.
With its capacity for both great good and great evil, the capricious nature of social media means that it can both elevate and destroy individuals as a sharp, double-edged sword.
“Behind every footballer who’s had a poor performance, there’s a human being with emotions—someone who can feel devastated or broken when threats to their life or family are hurled their way.
This is the unvarnished truth,” remarked German footballer Robin Gosens on Thursday as he marked his return to the national team.
The 30-year-old left-back spoke from personal experience, having endured the crushing impact of online abuse, on players’ mental health after going from a regular starter to being left out of the ‘Mannschaft’ squad within just a few months.
Gosens’ speech was revealing—though it’s becoming a recurring narrative in recent times. It’s hard to skim through the headlines without coming across an athlete affected by, complaining about, or speaking out against a situation that demands urgent attention. “These issues are still burdened with far too many stigmas.
Depression and mental illnesses are incredibly serious, and we need to reach a point where we can openly discuss them,” the current ACF Fiorentina player emphasized during his press conference, as he closed with a powerful message that many would do well to engrave in their minds: “Think before you post.”
Physical appearance: The roots of evil
Constantly bombarded by influencers on social media, young people are increasingly obsessed with their physical appearance.
From diets to exercise routines, many aspects of their lives are influenced by these online personalities.
This relentless focus on achieving the most Herculean body or perceived near-perfect looks has created a toxic culture where those who don’t fit the mold are routinely subjected to cruel criticism.
Olympic water polo champion Paula Leitón experienced this firsthand during the Paris Games when she was the victim of a torrent of abuse over her physique while dominating the pool.
At the 18th Albatros International Congress on Toxicology held in June 2024, Professor Ornella Corazza shed light on the dangers tied to aesthetic idealisation. Her research revealed that this societal trend can trigger sports-related psychopathologies, including exercise addiction—characterised by an obsessive focus on physical activity that disrupts mood and sleep patterns when not performed—and body dysmorphia, an overwhelming concern with physical appearance that interferes with daily life.
An international study spanning eight countries (including Europe and Japan) and highlighted by Psiquiatria.com, offered compelling insight: Nearly 3,000 participants were surveyed, uncovering that almost 5% were at risk of developing exercise addiction, a figure rising to 11% in the UK, where it was more prevalent among men.
Furthermore, over 15% exhibited pathological concerns about their appearance. Heightened anxiety about looks and exposure to fitness content on social media were found to be strongly linked to women.
What drives people to mock someone’s physical appearance? It might be the easy route for clowns—a shortcut to cruelty.
While men are statistically less affected by such cases, they are by no means spared from this potent form of hatred. One of the most high-profile victims of such vile conduct is Vinicius Jr., a prominent figure in the football world.
The Real Madrid forward has been locked in a prolonged battle with racism and hateful taunts in Spain. Insults comparing him to apes and derogatory comments about his appearance have unfortunately become a regular occurrence.
Earlier this year, incidents at Mestalla Stadium led to the imprisonment of several Valencia fans for making monkey references directed at him. More recently, in October, four Atlético Madrid supporters were arrested after the hateful viral campaign #metropolitanoconmascarilla targeted the Brazilian player, shining a harsh spotlight on this deplorable and condemnable behaviour.
A lesson that has certainly set a precedent: Not everything goes on social media.
Social media has weighed into the way athletes operate, serving as a powerful tool for promoting their clubs, countries, and sponsors.
It’s now seen as an essential part of their professional lives. In every sense, it’s both a launchpad for promotion and commercial ventures, where one’s image can skyrocket to stardom and a cradle for self-esteem issues and controversies. These consequences are becoming increasingly evident.
The German club St. Pauli made waves by leaving X last Friday. The ‘Pirates’ denounced the platform as a seedbed for hate and misinformation, which could influence the upcoming German elections after current Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s fallout.
A revolutionary move in professional football that sets a precedent and once again underlines the role of social media in sport—a topic that, while ever-present, doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves given its devastating effects.
In a bid to combat these issues, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched a trailblazing course in June designed to educate athletes about the potential impact of social media on their mental health.
Ahead of this summer’s Games, and in collaboration with leading experts, the course aimed to not only identify warning signs of adverse effects but also to provide practical tools for the conscious, healthy, and sustainable use of these platforms.
Furthermore, the course offered crucial information on where to seek professional help if needed.
How to tackle a colossal adversary?
It’s no longer solely a football issue; basketball, tennis, and other sports with large fan bases also attract a disproportionate amount of criticism. It’s simply a matter of statistics.
Beyond the realm of sports, Justin Bieber experienced quite a mouthful of online backlash himself at the beginning of his career and fellow pop singer Taylor Swift has also had her share for flying her private jet while Will Smith’s slapping of Chris Rock at the Oscars is still raking in insults in the ‘Fresh Prince’s’ official accounts two years later.
According to research by the think tank Demos back in 2020, on platform X, approximately 10,000 tweets containing racist slurs are posted daily in English.
That equates to one in every 15,000 tweets. Chilling statistics for a world striving for progress. On the other hand, to date, legal precedent has taken a narrow view of hate speech offences.
This resulted in a legal landscape marked by severe penalties yet a lack of meaningful action against hate speech itself. In light of this, the ‘Living Together Online: Action and Campaign Against Hate Speech’ initiative (known as the No Hate Campaign), launched by the Council of Europe (CoE) in March 2013, deserves close attention because it’s been the go-to for loads of different projects trying to sort this out over the past three years.
If there’s one thing haters seem incapable of, it’s forgetting. What they do excel at, however, is creating situations that trigger risk, alarm, and danger—moments when the brain sends signals to the adrenal glands, causing a spike in cortisol levels for athletes. María Tovar, famously known as ‘El Último Tangle,’ is a practitioner and teacher of an artistic technique that blends imagery creation with meditation, mindfulness, and, above all, the eradication of what she calls “the mind’s kryptonite”—those rumination-fuelled emotions that can derail mental balance.
Her workshops have welcomed a wide variety of students, athletes included, in the search for colourful escapes from these bleak realities.
Tovar emphasizes that “when individuals with so much influence and recognition are bombarded with hate online, they often begin to believe it’s true,” ultimately chipping away at their morale.
She advocates for positive experiences and activities that calm the mind, which are essential in building what she describes as “a shield” to deflect the venomous arrows targeting the peace of athletes—and anyone else confronting such unpleasant circumstances.
As the past decade has amply demonstrated, mental health is paramount to an athlete’s success. Often, a hurtful comment can be the final straw, an additional grievance, or a reason to abandon their dreams of sporting greatness. In tennis, Naomi Osaka suffered from depression and anxiety when she withdrew from the French Open in 2021.
She later took extended breaks from the game to protect her well-being and hasn’t been the same since.
DeMar DeRozan, NBA star and now author of a memoir delving into his life, emerged as a beacon of hope for many sportsmen when he admitted in a tweet that “depression was getting the best of me.”
Similarly, Spanish footballer Álvaro Morata, frequently the target of relentless attacks and ridicule, confessed that he nearly left Euro 2024—a tournament he would later win as captain—after battling depression and the exhaustion of feeling unfairly mistreated.
Malicious comments and smear campaigns don’t solely sting; they cut deep, carving wounds in the confidence and well-being of those who, despite being idolised, are merely human.
“The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone,” said Goethe, a poignant reminder that, amid the noise, athletes need sanctuaries where peace triumphs over external judgment. Sport is more than a test of performance; it is a stage for humanity. Safeguarding the mental health of athletes is, at its core, preserving the essence of the game itself.
Progress is embraced not through destructive online commentary dissecting why a shot was missed or a goal wasn’t scored, but by fostering an environment where athletes can thrive, both as players and as people.
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