The effect of the digital era on players

[Barbarossa]

Was thinking about this earlier.

Before the digital or more so the social media era, if players had a bad game or made a mistake, it may be discussed amongst fans, or in the newspaper. Perhaps on the tv highlights once or twice.

Now, mistakes are highlighted and replayed over and over on social media. Fans have instant access to constantly abuse players through mediums like Twitter or Facebook. Some of the vitriol you see written from the keyboard warriors is obscene.

Is social media playing a part in having a negative impact on players, affecting game by game confidence and such?

 

[PunkScott]

I hate it. I switch on at kick off and turn off at full time.

Over debated and over analysed.

 

[Bearinperth]

It’s not the social media at fault, it’s the people who use it with the express intention of being a twat

 

[BrianSmp]

It's not that footballing mistakes are being made more regularly now, it's that a mistake will be half way round the world on video within 5 mins - a different level of scrutiny, and ultimately humiliation.

Definitely had an impact - probably means mental strength is even more important now than ever before.

 

[Torque_87]

Players should make their social media private if they want to use it. There are some amount of key board warriors out there who couldn't fight their way out a wet paper bag, yet go on social media abusing players and fans. Most of them have probably never seen a game never mind been to one.

 

[Detective Vic Mackey]

Players seem much more immature these days. Very few men in our squad and more a collection of daft wee boys.

Im not sure if that’s unfair and it’s just the effect of social media and getting more of a peek into the lives of the players.

 

[Blue Pete]

It's not that footballing mistakes are being made more regularly now, it's that a mistake will be half way round the world on video within 5 mins - a different level of scrutiny, and ultimately humiliation.

Definitely had an impact - probably means mental strength is even more important now than ever before.

Totally right mate, within seconds it's been watched and rewatched millions of times the world over, just look at Karius in the Champs League final...

 

[PunkScott]

Players seem much more immature these days. Very few men in our squad and more a collection of daft wee boys.

Im not sure if that’s unfair and it’s just the effect of social media and getting more of a peek into the lives of the players.

In the halcyon days of 60's 70s and 80s players, being a footballer was a job that fed your family, now it is a hobby that can suddenly make you a millionaire at 18. Who needs to be mature when you've "made it" at that age?

 

[RFC#1Scotty]

I don't think it makes much difference on the player, I don't think it puts any pressure on them, at the end of the day you are naturally under pressure anyway playing in front of big crowds, like the Liverpool goalkeeper, you don't need social media to feel that pressure, it was a Champions League final, his mistakes cost him.

Even before the dawn of social media players came under the kosh, hell, I remember going back to our Advocaat era before the dawn of Facebook when players faced heaps of abuse whether it was at Rangers or Celtic.

Sure, things spread as it's the era of new technology, perhaps social media creates distractions and causes trouble when players post things and fans post abuse, but these players will have been sat down and gone through all this to pay no attention. They would face scrutiny before the dawn of social media anyway.