Olympics Provide Platform For Social Media Invention

Social media and #SochiProblems

The Olympics have been, and always will be a spectacle that will bring the world to a stand still. Whether it is the more popular summer Olympics or the winter games that are currently taking place in Sochi, people will eventually give in to the fact that if you’re not in the know, you’re missing out.

Social media is one of the main ways that people can find out results, share stories, and even find out what a particular event is. There are so many ways that people can get to the bottom of a glorified ice slide it’s unbelievable. More and more people are taking to social platforms to do exactly what they’re there to do, and that’s share their feelings.

Due to some, erm, 'controversial' stances and viewpoints in Sochi, there was always bound to be some negativity thrown about on Facebook, Twitter and the like, with people using it as one of their only available platforms to voice their concerns. The hashtag #SochiProblems was used by a collection of journalists and athletes to inform people of some of the issues surrounding the games. While most of the tweets and posts are merely poking fun at some of the slight problems and setbacks in the host nation, a few are more brutal and unforgiving.

While social media often gives people the opportunity to be harmful and disrespectful, these people are more often than not outweighed by the amount of positive and uplifting users. The natural competitive nature of the Olympics is bound to cause friction between users and in some cases, whole nations. But it also causes friendly banter between people with many looking for commonalities of unlikely appearances and a sensed acceptance of results.

Undoubtedly, one of the best, or certainly in my opinion, features of social media in the Sochi games is the use of Tinder. If you’re unfamiliar with what Tinder is, think of it as an acceptable form of answering the question ‘would you?’ but in app form. Users get shown a picture of someone located near them, and with a simple swish to the left or the right, decide whether they’re attracted to that person. If the person reacts positively back to you, you’re in luck! You can then talk to that person, and let the romance blossom.

Now you’ve sussed it out, you can probably imagine why it’s so popular in a confined village. Olympians have admitted the use of the app while in the Olympic Village of Sochi, and why not? Not everyone has time to take to conventional dating methods when there’s a slope to go down head first.

That’s certainly one way of using social media to make things easier. Another way, and possibly my personal favourite sparked when the Jamaicans decided to enter a bobsled team. The film 'Cool Runnings' produced tons of quotes that are repeated all around the world, and this inclusion into the games has only given people more of a reason to share their favourites.

When the games end, they’re bound to be remembered partly for the interaction that fans have had around the world, thanks to social media and the availability of information at people’s fingertips. In one of the most controversial games in years, where better for people to have their opinions seen. Now remember...

Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time!

Dan Barr

I'm a Social Media Executive (Global Community Manager). Previous work includes writing for Social Media Frontiers and working for a major DIY retail company as part of their social media strategy team I have an MA in Sports Journalism and especially love the combination of social media and sport.

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