ABSTRACT
Many sport psychology texts devote some content to the discussion of social psychology as it relates to sport settings. This chapter focuses on some of those social sport psychology concepts while considering relevant cyberpsychology perspectives. Specifically, social media use by athletes to communicate with one another, their wider sport network and the general public at large is presented. The advantages of using online social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (‘X’), WhatsApp and YouTube are highlighted. How athletes present themselves on these various social media platforms and what information they typically choose to share with members of the public using social media are discussed. Some research findings and theoretical models from the cognitive, cyber and social psychology literature are cited to help explain the decision-making processes thought to influence athletes’ behaviours when engaged in social media use. A brief reference to social media use by sport organisations and sport officials (e.g., referees) is also made at the end of this chapter. Some risks associated with social media use by all involved in the sport setting are documented, with more problematic online behaviours explored in greater depth in Chapter 5.
