This article explores the athlete's relationship with both traditional and social (digital) media and describes athletes' media obligations and the pressures of media attention. It explains the difference in the representation of diverse groups, and the potential positive and negative outcomes of the media on an athlete's mental health. The article will review the emergence of social media, its limitless reach, and ways in which it diverges from traditional media coverage of athletic performance. Finally, the article concludes with a discussion of ways that athletes' multidsciplinary medical teams may become advocates for healthy and supportive interactions between athletes and media. Key Points • Athletes potentially face punitive measures for not complying with their sports media obligations. • Compared to the general population, athletes have additional incentives to benefit from social media use. • Athletes of diverse and minoritized backgrounds may be subject to marginalizing media coverage. • Although media attention for athletes has various positive impacts, it can also serve as a profound source of stress and lead to negative mental health consequences. • Understanding the potential negative.
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