How some young athletes are learning to navigate the social media spotlight

While the abuse may be persistent, athletes’ responses are evolving.

Some young athletes are finding ways to cope with the noise, such as Formula E driver Ella Lloyd who says she “just laughs off” negative comments, while Olympic gymnast Ruby Evans, who is competing at this year’s Commonwealth Games, is blunt in her response: “They can’t do what I do.”

Instead of simply tolerating social media, many are shaping their visibility, and Dr. Melick believes this shift is partly generational.

“Having grown up with this technology, (younger athletes) are able to adapt to it better. They have a better knowledge and understanding and appreciation for it,” he said.

“They don’t see it as a response to an immediate threat. It’s something they’re familiar with. They’ve come to understand better that social media is not fact-based. It’s a form of entertainment.

“They can then explore it in a more positive way.”

Cardiff City midfielder Ellie King is one such example. While recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury last season, he launched JustQuickConvo, a series of social media podcasts focused on mental health in sports.

King says she hopes she’s using her platform in a positive way, and although initially unsure about sharing her experience, she says the response has confirmed to her the importance of using visibility positively.

“People reaching out to me explaining their stories and maybe their struggles and why I’m trying to do something is helping them. Once I got that reception, it was worthwhile,” said the 24-year-old.

“Everyone has their issues and struggles. If one person can see this (his content) and feel encouraged to call their partner the next day, that’s my job.”

Dr. Melick sees this response as significant.

“We know from research that athletes sharing their struggles online is a really impactful step in breaking down the stigma associated with mental health issues.”

“It increased help-seeking behavior, especially among men, and created better and safer conversations about mental health and wellness.”

Exposure is inevitable but with it, growing athletes are not only learning to survive and deal with the noise from social media but also inspiring change through their platform.

They are helping to reshape what visibility can mean in the hope that even small actions can change behavior.

As Kane said: “If I can make people think before they write something, I will.”