Connect with us

CELEBRITY

Coco Gauff’s TikTok Inspiration: The Weight Of Social Media On Athletes

Published

on

Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, experienced a massive mindset shift ahead of her first match against Emma Navarro at the 2024 tournament. What precipitated this change? Like many athletes, social media played a major role. Not only was she experiencing the pressure of defending her title, but she was also facing scrutiny from many people online. Despite this, it was a TikTok comment that helped her reframe her approach to the game and she attributed her mindset to it completely.

After winning her first game at the 2024 US Open, Gauff reported in an interview that a TikTok comment shifted her perspective. “Somebody commented on my TikTok and they were like: ‘You’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap.’” In the interview, she continued, “If I played this last week I feel like it would be really difficult, but my perspective has changed a lot over seven days. I was just trying to enjoy the match. I enjoyed it today and obviously it was straightforward, but even if it was tighter these are the moments you live for.”

While Gauff found inspiration this time through social media, many athletes experience a more negative side of online engagement. This can fuel anxiety and ultimately lead to performance issues on the court. Gauff’s ability to take a positive message from TikTok truly is unique in an environment where many athletes often discount the positive and focus on the negative. Not only is the pressure of an athlete’s sport high, but the constant exposure to social media adds another layer of stress through criticism, unrealistic expectations, and unprompted commentary.

Although Gauff experience demonstrates the possibility for social media to offer support, research tells a different story. A recent study examined the association of social media use on sleep quality and performance among collegiate athletes. It found that social media use was associated with both low sleep quality and poor competition performance of college athletes.1 It was also found that greater time spent on Facebook may hinder competition performance.

For athletes, and anyone in general, the feedback loop of social media can become toxic as it both feeds insecurities and diminishes self-worth. When one’s identity is tied to external validation—whether praise or criticism—it can erode their mental well-being. What is the impact? Ultimately, it can result in symptoms of anxiety, burnout, and even depression. To overcome some of these obstacles, it requires athletes to detach from the words of others. It boils down to constructing one’s self-worth and developing confidence from within and not having either of those things positively or negatively impacted by external factors.

To effectively navigate the pressures of social media and ensure it does not directly impact their sport performance, athletes must craft strategies to protect their mental well-being when engaging online. Oftentimes, athletes choose to work with a mental health professional, such as a Sports Psychiatrist or a Sport and Performance Psychologist, to help them navigate some of the challenges specific to the life of an athlete. Some interventions can include limiting time on social media apps, focusing on internal validation rather than external input, and practicing mindfulness. By having a strong support system offline and establishing clear boundaries around their online presence, athletes can effectively stay grounded and ultimately perform at their best, without being derailed by the negativity that often comes with social media engagement.

A positive takeaway from Gauff’s message is that athletes can learn to harness the potential of social media to inspire and motivate them, while working proactively to develop a strong self of self-worth, defined from within.

References:

1. Watkins, R. A., Sugimoto, D., Hunt, D., Oldham, J., Cacolice, P. A., & Stracciolini, A. (2022). Association of Social Media Use on Sleep Quality and Performance Among Collegiate Athletes. Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, 32(5), 486–492.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SHOCKING NEWS: Oprah Winfrey decides to end her legendary show, plans to move to Italy: “I CAN’T LIVE IN AMERICA FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS AND I WILL PROVE ELON MUSK THAT… see more
CELEBRITY4 hours ago

SHOCKING NEWS: Oprah Winfrey decides to end her legendary show, plans to move to Italy: “I CAN’T LIVE IN AMERICA FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS AND I WILL PROVE ELON MUSK THAT… see more

Extending prayers, and deepest sympathies to the Bidens, it’s with profound sadness and heavy heart we share the sad news about Joe Biden, who has been confirmed to be…..see more.”
CELEBRITY5 days ago

Extending prayers, and deepest sympathies to the Bidens, it’s with profound sadness and heavy heart we share the sad news about Joe Biden, who has been confirmed to be…..see more.”

Breaking: $102 billion vanished in a flash, as Tesla sales collapsed and X sold at $12 billion loss, leaving Elon Musk to face the aftermath of a sudden crisis…see more
CELEBRITY6 days ago

Breaking: $102 billion vanished in a flash, as Tesla sales collapsed and X sold at $12 billion loss, leaving Elon Musk to face the aftermath of a sudden crisis…see more

The rumors were true! The Royal Palace confirms heartbreaking news to the nation — tragedy strikes Harry in the U.S.: “We’re sorry… we couldn’t protect him…” See more below
CELEBRITY6 days ago

The rumors were true! The Royal Palace confirms heartbreaking news to the nation — tragedy strikes Harry in the U.S.: “We’re sorry… we couldn’t protect him…” See more below

BREAKING NEWS: Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer Months After Leaving White House, Vows in Heartfelt Statement ‘I’m Determined to Fight This with All I’ve Got’
CELEBRITY6 days ago

BREAKING NEWS: Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 82, Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer Months After Leaving White House, Vows in Heartfelt Statement ‘I’m Determined to Fight This with All I’ve Got’

JUST IN: The View Co-host Whoopi Goldberg Condemn Cannes Film Festival 2025 Ban on Red Carpet Exposing Outfits and Calling Robert De Niro’s Lifetime Award “Unjustified
CELEBRITY6 days ago

JUST IN: The View Co-host Whoopi Goldberg Condemn Cannes Film Festival 2025 Ban on Red Carpet Exposing Outfits and Calling Robert De Niro’s Lifetime Award “Unjustified

JUST IN: Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes Light Up the 15 and Mahomes Charity Gala, as Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Watch in Admiration from the Sidelines
CELEBRITY6 days ago

JUST IN: Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes Light Up the 15 and Mahomes Charity Gala, as Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Watch in Admiration from the Sidelines

JUST IN: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Captivate the Crowd with a Breathtaking Arrival at Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies Charity Gala Extravaganza
CELEBRITY6 days ago

JUST IN: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Captivate the Crowd with a Breathtaking Arrival at Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies Charity Gala Extravaganza

JUST IN: Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Enjoy a Heartwarming Family Golf Day in Las Vegas with Sterling, Bronze and Baby Golden Raye at the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation Vegas Golf Classic
CELEBRITY7 days ago

JUST IN: Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Enjoy a Heartwarming Family Golf Day in Las Vegas with Sterling, Bronze and Baby Golden Raye at the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation Vegas Golf Classic

Fans can’t get enough of Kelce’s cheeky Swiftie moment: Taylor Swift returns to help Patrick Mahomes as Travis Kelce ‘fights’ for a gift from girlfriend he already
CELEBRITY1 week ago

Fans can’t get enough of Kelce’s cheeky Swiftie moment: Taylor Swift returns to help Patrick Mahomes as Travis Kelce ‘fights’ for a gift from girlfriend he already

11-Year-Old With Deadly Brain Tumor Makes Final Heartbreaking Wish to Travis Kelce—But Kelce’s Jaw-Dropping Response Stuns Entire Hospital! What Happened Next Broke the Internet and Left Everyone in Tears… This Emotional Story of Heroism and Hope Will Completely Restore Your Faith in Humanity. Discover the Unforgettable Moment Kelce Turned a Simple Call Into a Life-Changing Surprise! full story below
CELEBRITY1 week ago

11-Year-Old With Deadly Brain Tumor Makes Final Heartbreaking Wish to Travis Kelce—But Kelce’s Jaw-Dropping Response Stuns Entire Hospital! What Happened Next Broke the Internet and Left Everyone in Tears… This Emotional Story of Heroism and Hope Will Completely Restore Your Faith in Humanity. Discover the Unforgettable Moment Kelce Turned a Simple Call Into a Life-Changing Surprise! full story below

Baby McDavid Is on the Way! Joy fills the hockey world as Connor McDavid confirms he’s going to be a father, and reveals a baby name that’s sure to melt hearts. Full video 👇
CELEBRITY1 week ago

Baby McDavid Is on the Way! Joy fills the hockey world as Connor McDavid confirms he’s going to be a father, and reveals a baby name that’s sure to melt hearts. Full video 👇

Copyright © 2024 UKgets