With 35% of users engaging with social media "almost constantly," athlete mental health has emerged as an urgent public health concern. The U.S. Surgeon General's official warning about social media's impact on young people's well-being particularly resonates in the athletic community, where the pressure to maintain a perfect image is intensifying.
Recent research reveals a complex relationship between athletes and social media platforms. While Instagram usage can promote feelings of calmness, platforms like TikTok have been linked to increased stress levels and disrupted sleep patterns among competitive athletes. These findings are especially significant considering that 95% of young people have access to smartphones, creating an almost inescapable digital environment that affects athletes across all competition levels.
This article examines why more athletes are choosing to step back from social media, exploring the hidden pressures, warning signs, and breaking points that influence their decisions to prioritize mental wellness over digital presence.
Athletes face unprecedented digital scrutiny, with studies showing 80% report at least two hours of daily social media consumption, and an average of four hours per day [1]. This digital immersion creates a unique psychological environment where performance is no longer just evaluated during competition.
Social media scrutiny extends beyond the playing field to athletes' physical appearance, creating a damaging feedback loop. Research reveals that commentary on performance directly increases stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue [1]. Furthermore, body image concerns intensify through constant comparison with competitors' physiques [1].
The mental health impact becomes measurable in concrete ways. One study found that just 30 minutes of social media use before training significantly increased perceived mental fatigue, impaired decision-making abilities, and decreased response times [1]. Consequently, this directly undermines the very performance athletes are striving to perfect.
Sleep quality, crucial for recovery and performance, suffers notably from social media habits. Athletes engaged with social platforms within one hour of bedtime on 70% of nights studied [1], despite research confirming that nighttime social media use independently predicts poor sleep quality.
Female athletes bear a disproportionate burden of this digital scrutiny, becoming targets of 87% of recorded online abuse [2]. This abuse frequently includes sexist, racist, transphobic and homophobic content [2]. In one striking example, a tennis player received over 2,000 abusive messages following a single match [3].
The psychological mechanism behind these effects often involves "upward social comparison" - athletes comparing themselves unfavorably to others based on curated, embellished information [4]. This comparison produces a contrast effect, leading to negative emotions and lower self-evaluation [4].
Despite these challenges, the relationship between social media and athlete mental health varies by platform. TikTok's design, focused on algorithm-driven content rather than followed accounts, potentially increases its addictive properties and subsequent psychological impact [5].
Declining performance often serves as the first observable indicator when athletes begin struggling with mental health issues. One study found that approximately 25% of athletes experience sleep issues [6], which directly impacts their ability to focus and perform. Poor sleep quality affects not only athletic performance but also injury recovery and cognitive function [1].
Changes in behavior represent crucial warning signs that coaches and teammates should monitor. Athletes experiencing mental health challenges commonly display increased irritability, withdrawal from social activities, decreased motivation, and noticeable changes in eating and sleeping patterns [6]. Moreover, self-isolation emerges as a significant indicator, as socializing becomes increasingly draining for athletes facing mental health struggles [7].
Social media usage patterns offer important insights into athlete mental health. Research indicates that "super active" social media users demonstrate worse sleep quality than moderate users [8], with nighttime social media use independently predicting poor sleep quality [1]. Indeed, studies show that athletes engaged with social platforms within one hour of sleep on 70% of nights studied [1].
Performance anxiety, often exacerbated by social media pressure, creates a counterproductive cycle. As one clinical psychologist notes, "The irony is that the more anxiety we're putting on these kids, the worse they're going to play" [9]. Initially subtle, these anxieties can escalate until athletes struggle to focus during practice and competition.
In college athletes specifically, loneliness represents an often-overlooked warning sign. Despite being surrounded by teammates, many athletes experience profound feelings of isolation that severely impact both their wellbeing and performance [10]. Importantly, research identifies injury and retirement as unique factors within sporting environments that can heighten feelings of isolation [10].
Recognizing these warning signs early allows for timely intervention before athletes reach their breaking point.
Social media has become so overwhelming for elite athletes that many are now deliberately stepping away from their platforms. According to research, accessing social media just 30 minutes before competition leads to decreased race times and increased perceived fatigue [3]. This direct performance impact has triggered a wave of high-profile social media breaks among sports stars.
Professional basketball player Kelly Oubre Jr. explains his decision plainly: "I stay off social media nowadays. I try to be mentally free" [2]. Instead of scrolling through comments, he reads, sleeps, or plays video games with teammates during travel. Similarly, NBA star LeBron James engaged in complete social media blackouts during playoffs for several years [11].
The psychological burden of constant feedback drives many athletes to their breaking point. When England manager Gareth Southgate quit social media, he noted, "The world is a happier place if I'm not getting that negativity" [12]. For football players specifically, the Professional Footballers' Association reports increasing numbers are rejecting social media due to stress, with players telling counselors they've deleted accounts because of "the barrage they get" [13].
Scientific evidence supports these decisions. A University of Bath study found that just one week off social media led to significant improvements in wellbeing and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety [14]. For athletes, this translates to improved focus during competition.
Accordingly, many sports organizations now implement structured approaches to social media management. Some advise athletes to take "blackout periods" before and during competitions [11], while others recommend waiting to process experiences before engaging online [15].
In place of constant social validation, athletes report reconnecting with their intrinsic motivation. As one competitor discovered after deleting Instagram: "After deleting social media, I've come back to the mindset that allowed me to succeed in the first place" [16].
Ultimately, the rising trend of social media breaks reflects a crucial realization among elite athletes—digital connection often comes at too high a cost to their mental health and competitive edge.
Social media's impact on athlete mental health stands as a critical concern across all competition levels. Research clearly demonstrates how digital platforms affect everything from sleep quality to performance metrics, with studies showing measurable declines after just 30 minutes of social media use before training.
Elite athletes lead an important shift by recognizing these challenges and taking decisive action. Their social media breaks demonstrate positive outcomes, as evidenced by the University of Bath study showing significant improvements in mental wellbeing after just one week away from these platforms.
Athletes who step back from social media often rediscover their core motivations and achieve better focus during competition. This pattern suggests that while social platforms offer valuable connection opportunities, their benefits must be carefully weighed against potential costs to mental health and athletic performance.
The growing trend of social media breaks among sports professionals sends a powerful message: prioritizing mental wellness over digital presence represents a crucial step toward sustainable athletic success. Though complete withdrawal might not suit everyone, athletes at all levels should consider implementing structured approaches to manage their social media engagement effectively.
[1] - Merrill, S., & Faustin, M. (2023). Likes and hashtags: Influence of athlete social media use. Sports Psychiatry, 2(4), 153–156. https://doi.org/10.1024/2674-0052/a000060
[2] - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/05/money-social-media-and-trust-issues-why-loneliness-stalks-the-nba
[3] - https://www.hsu.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-projects/an-exploration-of-the-impact-of-social-media-use-on-athletic-performance/
[4] - Zhang, W., Jiang, F., Zhu, Y., & Zhang, Q. (2023). Risks of passive use of social network sites in youth athletes: a moderated mediation analysis. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1219190. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219190
[5] - Fiedler, R., Geber, J., Reichert, M. et al. Young athletes’ mental well-being is associated with smartphone social networking application usage and moderated by performance level and app type. Sci Rep 14, 27048 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77418-2
[6] - https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/athlete-mh
[7] - https://sportsmedicineweekly.com/blog/featured/10-signs-of-mental-health-issues-in-athletes/
[8] - Watkins, R. A., Sugimoto, D., Hunt, D. L., Oldham, J. R., & Stracciolini, A. (2021). THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON SLEEP QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE AMONG COLLEGIATE ATHLETES. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 9(7 suppl3), 2325967121S00087. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967121S00087
[9] - https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/Ij-gb3JwOo4/2023-may-parent-article
[10] - https://news.lincoln.ac.uk/2024/10/22/new-study-reveals-loneliness-as-a-major-concern-in-sport/
[11] - https://performanceinmind.co.uk/2022/08/20/athletes-sm/
[12] - https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/gareth-southgate-footballers-quit-social-media-thierry-henry-b926674.html
[13] - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51561987
[14] - https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/social-media-break-improves-mental-health-new-study/
[15] - https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/protecting-athletes-mental-health-from-social-media-risks/2024/07
[16] - https://www.richardsonsclimbing.com/why-ditching-instagram-earned-me-the-podium/
