Social media has a huge impact on everyone’s life. Perhaps even more on that of public personalities. Rafael Nadal has a huge fan following across various social media platforms. Social media platforms offer more visibility, followers, and business to these sports figures.
Rafa turned pro in 2001 and since then has a good chunk of dedicated fans around the world. People around the globe love him. With all the love comes hate and trolls. People who hide behind fake identities and spread hateful messages and irrelevant criticisms.
Various tennis stars have spoken out on the effects of social media and how it affects their personal lives. Naomi Osaka and Alexander Zverev are the ones who have recently spoken out on the problem.
Rafael Nadal on how he deals with hatred on social media
The use of social media has been a big debate in the tennis world for various years. Previously, Rafael Nadal also suggested that he would prefer to be in an era where there were no social networks.
Recently the Spaniard have his thoughts on social media and how he deals with the late messages. He said, “I’m from another generation. I don’t live in social media. I put a photo or two sometimes, but nothing more than that. If I receive bad messages on social media, I really don’t realize.”
Rafa Nadal on social media threaths.
"I'm from another generation. I don't live in social media. I put a photo or two sometimes, but nothing more than that. If I receive bad messages on social media, I really don't realize."
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 27, 2022
Alexander Zverev also talked about the effects of social media on his life. Recently, the defeated Sebastian Baez in 2022 French Open and gave an extensive interview after the match. He opened about his personal life, effects of social on his mental health and much more.
During the post match press conference a reporter asked Zverev about mental health issue in tennis, and if social media is an issue in the deteriorating mental health status. He said, “I was struggling a lot this year. I think I was quite depressed at times, as well.”
“We are constantly in a spotlight. These days I think with social media and a lot of other platforms, there is a lot more involvement and there is a lot more hatred going on.”
He added, “But that’s just the world we live in right now. It’s sad to see. But that’s the reality, because I think social media gives everybody a platform to say whatever they want, good or bad.”
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