With the proliferation of social media and advanced technology, both athletes and celebrities have evolved from professional icons to influencers of our every day. With the simple touch of a screen, we are reminded of what our favorite celebrities and athletes are doing not only in their professional careers, but also in their everyday lives.
Put simply, social media and other forms of technology allow celebrities and sports icons to influence on both a personal and professional level. In our celebrity-obsessed world, technology is showing us a new kind of personal relationship with our favorite idols and at the same time it's enhancing our overall viewing experience.
Adam Adler, a serial entrepreneur and sports fanatic located in Miami, Florida, acknowledges how the emergence of social and digital media has changed the nature of our relationships altogether. In particular, he notes how technology is the bridge to a new type of connection we have with athletes and celebrities.
Adam Adler shares three ways technology is changing our relationship and our overall experience with the athletes and celebrities of today.
1. Entertainment On-Screen
The on-screen experience is now becoming a more desirable option, and in many ways, has surpassed watching an event from the stands. Today, we are seeing more and more sports fanatics engage in this out-of-venue notion thanks to technology's new features that enhance the viewing experience and bring fans even closer to the action. For example, during the 2019 NBA playoffs, TNT provided a heightened viewer experience by giving fans access to a video mosaic comprised of individual cameras that highlighted specific players and teams. These new features in technology allow for more a personalized experience, giving us an entire realm of entertainment on-screen and in the palm of our hands, says Adam Adler.
2. The Rise of Celebrity Influencers
Today's technology is like no other; it has allowed for faster, more systemic communication and celebrities see great benefit in developing direct lines of communication with their followers. Rather than relying solely on the media to tell their stories, celebrities are empowered to use social media to tell their own, notes Adam Adler. Not only does this allow for a closer connection with celebrities and fans, it also allows celebrities to have more control over their public perception — and we can't get enough! Now that celebrities are putting their own personalities on display, they are not just being followed for their professional talents; they’re also becoming influencers themselves to an even larger demographic.
3. Fantasy Sports
Technology has had the greatest impact on our overall experience with sports and entertainment and in particular, fantasy sports, notes Adam Adler. Before the days of fantasy sports, fans relied more on team performance than individual player performance. At that time, we would tune into the TV, newspaper, or radio to stay connected to our favorite sports teams.
Fast forward to today, technology and the evolution of mobile applications not only allows sports fans to create and manage their own online fantasy teams, but also monitor personalized streams that include real-time updates from the players themselves, as well as the reaction to those players from the media. This leads to a closer connection with our favorite athletes as we virtually follow their every move, putting more focus on the individual player and his/her performance.
Adam Adler on Bridging the Gap
In every era, we go through numerous changes and in recent years ours has been predominantly impacted by technology. Today, social and digital media is providing more means of connecting people and if used effectively, can give all of us greater choices in how we live our lives. When it comes to our interactions with celebrities and athletes, technology will continue to bridge the gap, providing even more personal interaction and immediacy, says Adam Adler.
