O futebol e as redes sociais digitais: o impacto do ciberespaço em atletas amadores
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Football, a widely popular sport in Brazil, plays a significant role in the amateur scene, known as futebol de várzea, which transcends the physical boundaries of the field and gains increasing visibility in cyberspace. This study investigated the complex implications of digital social media (DSM) use by amateur football players. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire. Data were analyzed through content analysis, enabling correlation between findings. The main conclusion highlights a critical gap between players' high digital autonomy and the absence of institutional support. On one hand, athletes use DSM strategically for learning, communication, and self-promotion, developing notable “digital resilience” by transforming negative experiences into motivation. On the other hand, this self-management is fragile, possibly supported by denial mechanisms, as players acknowledge external threats (e.g., racism in the media) but minimize their direct impacts. The core challenge is to bridge the support gap through digital literacy strategies, consciously strengthening athletes’ resilience to protect their mental health and performance amid inevitable online exposure.
Language: Portuguese
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7219299205