The social media effect

Kenny Gainwell has a routine. Check the phone at halftime, send a text to his parents or girlfriend, get ready for the second half. But during the Philadelphia Eagles’ Oct. 29 game at Washington, he made the mistake of engaging with a frustrated fan who sent him a direct message. After the game, a screenshot of the exchange went public, and Gainwell and the Eagles had a mess on their hands. The incident, however, revived a conversation in sports that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon: is social media good for professional athletes? Is it worth it? What are the rewards and traps? Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat reporter Jeff McLane posed these questions to the Eagles’ locker room, with over a dozen players sharing personal stories about social media use, and how it’s affected them and their mental health. unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Host: Jeff McLane Executive Producer, Philadelphia Inquirer: Renee Ifill Director of Podcasting, KYW Newsradio: Tom Rickert Producer: Brian Seltzer