Social Media and Sports: Why the Veil of Anonymity is Ruining the Game

We’ve all seen a raging fan on social media before. Whether on Twitter, on Facebook, on Reddit, or anything in between; they’re there. Somewhere somebody is pissed beyond belief about their favorite sports team. Hell, it might not even be about their team. It could be about anyone. Lebron James or James Harden, JJ Watt or Patrick Mahomes, Tim Anderson or Yasiel Puig. Pick your sport, it’s there, and it needs to stop.

“The Hater” as I’ll refer to these raging fans from here on out, is spreading like a disease. They’ve come on the backs of social media platforms like a pack of fleas, and are spreading their vitriol to anyone around. The Hater has the ability to spread their hate far and wide with just the click of a button. They sit on their couch with their generic profile picture and twenty followers just bashing anyone they can. Is it ironic that here I am, bashing on these people? Definitely, but someone has to say it.

Sports fans have always been some of the most passionate people on the planet. Rooting for your favorite sports team taps into that primal group instinct everyone has within them. It’s not just a sports team, it’s YOUR sports team. And you’ll do whatever it takes to defend them. Through the ups and the downs, you’re there. This instinct is the reason why teams like the NFL’s…