Social Media and Athlete Welfare

in International Journal of Sport Communication

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Emma J. Kavanagh Department of Sport and Event Management, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom

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https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9984-1501 *
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Chelsea Litchfield School of Exercise Science, Sport and Health, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6781-4573
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Jaquelyn Osborne School of Exercise Science, Sport and Health, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2023-0116
Keywords:
abuse; gender-based violence; power; safeguarding online
First Published Online:
27 May 2023
In Print:
Volume 16: Issue 3
Page Range:
274–281
Restricted access

While the topic of athlete welfare has gained significant attention in academic literature, to date there has been a primacy placed on physical settings and their ability to augment or thwart the welfare of athletes. The discourse has, therefore, neglected the advent of social media spaces and their potential to have a significant impact on athlete welfare. Social media platforms are now a vital component in the lives of athletes who are increasingly reliant on maintaining an online presence and following. In this commentary, we consider the scope of social media and its potential impact on the welfare of athletes, particularly female athletes. In doing so, we identify and discuss some of the positive health and well-being outcomes associated with increased online communication and self-representation in social media spaces. We examine the scholarship concerning the threats posed by social media spaces, consider power in virtual environments and its impact on welfare, and finally suggest some future directions for scholarship in this field.

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