Social media fans posts and reactions and their effect on men basketball athletes in Lebanon

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to prove that social media posts and groups and their usage have a direct effect on men Basketball athletes in Lebanon such as affecting the performance of a player, ruining the image of a player, and bringing to public personal problems and issues so on and so forth. The social media communication will be studied in the perspective of the Uses and Gratification theory in understanding the reasons why people use these platforms. Also, these particular platforms will be investigated in relation to the concept of a Public Sphere theory, since most Lebanese basketball and soccer fans (the two major sports in Lebanon) are utilizing the social media platforms for bashing players, putting extra pressure on players or just adding a negative or positive image about those athletes. Using those theories will help us study, research and conclude the actions and reactions of daily active users on FB as well as the athletes in the game of Basketball and come up with a conclusion that explains the level of involvement and magnitude of potential effects through social media.