Recent events have led many to sever ties with, or at least explore alternatives to, X (formerly Twitter). This shift reflects the discontent surrounding X owner Elon Musk, his involvement in high-level politics, and the proliferation of misinformation and hate speech on the platform. Not to mention its new terms around AI. But what has this got to do with running and the wider sporting community? read more…
X, in its various forms, has provided a space for the sharing of and interaction with sports-related news and live events, and sports fans have been some of the most committed platform users. While sports-related content has seen a rise in views over the last year, even this community have been on the lookout for change. And while a popular alternative platform, Bluesky, which is based on the Twitter of old, has seen a substantial jump in user numbers in the last weeks, there is hesitation both among bigger players to leave X and their established following, and in audiences who wish to stay ‘in touch’. We as an audience of fans may be entering a period in which how we consume and experience our favourite sporting content, from pinnacle Olympic events to local race updates and science discussions, is disjointed and in which our communities are perhaps lesser for it.
It could be said that now, more than any other time, the resurgence of physical media is crucial as our worlds become more digital and less clear. Online content and push notifications have had a pervasive influence on our lives and resistance to this now sees physical media provide a refuge, a means to sit and be present amidst the digital noise. Physical media may, paradoxically, be repurposed for online content, yet can we suppose that our relationship to the community is more meaningful for having a copy on the coffee table?
[ By Jacob Adkin ]