Fantasy Sports vs. Social Media

VS.  

For those of you who have been living under a rock, fantasy sports have been growing exponentially over the past few years. Many of my good guy friends (and a few girls) are, as this t-shirt says, “Fantasy Sports Junkies.” I have never really been that interested in fantasy sports until a couple nights ago. After a discussion between myself, Jessica Lomelin, and our boyfriends, who do not understand our obsession with social media, but are Fantasy Sports Junkies it got me thinking: Are Fantasy Sports a type of social media? Or are they their own breed of web interaction? 

Wikipedia defines social media as “an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words and pictures. This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and “building” of shared meaning, as people share their stories, and understandings.” 

I have no doubt that Fantasy Sports is a form of social networking, but does it as a medium itself qualify as part of the social media family? I would argue that yes, Fantasy Sports are a form of social media. I believe this for several  reasons:

1. Online gaming is considered a form of social media. Yes there is more discussion during these games; however, in Fantasy Sports you can send messages and “smack talk” other players. This is naturally a form of social networking. Friends can keep in touch through their love of sports, and they can meet new people with their similar sports interests.

2. Fantasy Sports are starting to incorporate more “traditional” forms of social media such as blogging, photo sharing and community groups. With the addition of these features Fantasy Sports are moving closer to what most believe are considered as social media.

3. According to the Wikipedia definition, social media incorporates technology, social interaction and the construction of pictures and words. Obviously technology and social interaction occur in Fantasy Sports, but the construction of pictures and words is hard to prove. But I do believe that the messages, trades and teams that users create form as their type of networking and communicating. 

The reason I think this topic is so interesting is that these same Fantasy Sports Junkies often are doubters or the importance or relevance of social media. If we, as PR practitioners, can help this large audience understand the power of social media through their connection to Fantasy Sports we will have another way to help others, not in our field, understand what we do and why. Many of my good guy friends, who are Fantasy Sports Junkies, are majoring in business and will be the people deciding the real ROI on PR campaigns, or if they should even attempt a PR campaign. Finding ways to identify with them, such as through Fantasy Sports could be a common platform to launch from.