How Social Media Is Enhancing The Sports Experience?

Over the last few years, digital technology has evolved to bring out new gaming or sports experience. Surprisingly, social media is playing a pivotal role in it. The gaming industry of the current time is such that not only do the gamers love to play games but also watching a game is fun for many. In addition to that, watching live sports is no longer a fun activity. The fans want to participate in ongoing sports in real-time. Thankfully, social media platforms are helping the fans engage in real-time. This is giving rise to a new sports and gaming ecosystem where everyone is winning. 
Social Media Is Helping The Fans To Feel The Rush 
Gone are the days when sports fans loved only watching sports on television to catch all the live-action. The adrenaline rush that the fans felt had no outlet, but now social media platforms provide an outlet for the fans. Thanks to social media platforms, fans can now express their praise and disappointments online and let the world know about them. 

Cricket, an extremely important sport in India, received 96.2 million tweets between January 2021 and 2022. This very fact indicates how crucial social media platforms have become in expressing the joys and sorrows of the fans. The heavy use of social media platforms during sports also binds the broadcasters, publishers and brands together to attract more customers. 

The current trend is such that gaming social media has become inseparable. Even during live streaming, spectators throw their opinions in real-time chat when a gamer is playing games with TapTap. This trend is highly beneficial for the brands who use such opportunities to broadcast their products via the players. 
The Consumption Pattern Of Sports Is Changing 
Watching a sports event during the busy weekdays is not always possible for the younger demographics. The work schedule is such that one can only afford to see the highlight clips of the events, like someone taking a wicket or completing the last level of a game using Auto Clicker. This is the reason why, on YouTube, highlights are so widely popular. 

Further, social media platforms allow better engagement between the audience and the different stakeholders of the sports and the gaming community. For instance, television simply focuses on broadcasting the main event, but that is not the case on social media platforms. On these platforms, the fans can go beyond the main event and watch the behind-the-scenes moments and pre-game moments. The ability to see these moments create a better engagement for all. 

Also, many players go live on Instagram. During such scenarios, the fans can directly engage in question-and-answer sessions with the players. This creates a strong sense of community and a loyal fan base. Social media has paved a way where sports fans now have a way to contribute actively to the sports conversations, and the fans are loving it. This also works for the brands and companies working with the players. 
Social Media Is Now The Primary Channel Of Viewing 
Social media platforms are now more preferred for watching sports than television. According to reports, social media platforms in India have become the primary channel for watching sports. This is creating a paradigm change in the sports industry. For instance, ESPN is now airing social-first shows that the fans cannot find on local cable television. 

Also, social media platforms have become the primary source of sports news. Live tweets of sports are now extremely popular. The fans also get a chance to engage in such twists by using the same hashtags. The brands are leveraging this opportunity for their best. Getting feedback from the fans via polls is now a common trend. 

Social media has highly reduced the potential distance between the players and the fans. A few years ago, interacting with a famous athlete looked like a distant dream. However, this is not a dream for many now, thanks to social media platforms. Also, now the players have started showing their authentic life to connect with their fans better. Many players also use the platform to support a cause. Social media platforms have proved to be extremely helpful for the sports industry. If the same trend continues, social media will play a key role in sports. This was a much-required change that was necessary to keep the plays, fans and other stakeholders happy and profitable.