How Social Media, Gambling and NIL Have Changed the Player, Fan Dynamic for IU Basketball

…..Expectations from fans have always been high. But with social media, those fans have more outlets to reach out to players, to praise and to criticize. And the relationship between player and fan is changing further with NIL -- name, image and likeness -- money that, effectively, makes college basketball players openly professional…..

…..Today, college athletes have taken on a "celebrity-like image," said Dr. Katie Greenan, assistant professor of communication at the University of Indianapolis. "They are put on a pedestal."

And when they mess up, the hits can come in full force.

"It has been found that (on social media) people are more apt to be mean or say mean things," said Dr. Greenan. "These fans and these athletes, it’s not just that they`re attacking, but they`re attacking each other personally, too, and this would not happen as frequently face to face."…..

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Bethany`s Notes: As a fan how do you respond? Would you say to a players face what you say behind closed doors?