August 14, 2024
From viral moments to social media controversies: Analyzing the Paris 2024 Olympics online
Disclaimer: This report is intended solely for informational use. The data and insights contained in this report are derived from Bodyguard's independent analysis and do not suggest any formal association with Olympic-related organizations.
In the summer of 2024, Paris became the epicenter of global sports, showcasing not only top-tier athletic performances but also introducing exciting new additions to the Olympic lineup. With around 10,500 athletes from 203 countries competing in 32 sports across 329 events, the Games were a spectacle of human achievement.
As these historic events unfolded, social media emerged as the central hub where fans, athletes, and commentators shared their excitement in real-time. The inclusion of new sports like breaking (breakdancing), sport climbing, surfing, and skateboarding brought fresh energy, particularly among younger audiences, sparking new trends and viral moments online.
In this article, we’ll explore the key events of the Olympics and delve into the social media metrics that shaped the digital narrative, highlighting both the high points and challenges of online engagement during the Games.
Social media: the digital stadium of the 2024 Olympics
The 2024 Olympics saw unprecedented engagement across social media platforms, with millions of posts, tweets, and videos flooding the digital space daily. Fans celebrated victories, shared unforgettable highlights, and voiced their opinions on various events. However, as with any global event, social media also reflected the complexities of human interaction, becoming a battleground for both positive engagement and negative discourse.
Key moments on social media
A spectacular opening ceremony
The Paris 2024 Olympics kicked off with a breathtaking opening ceremony that celebrated France's rich history and cultural diversity. Social media buzzed with admiration for the event's stunning visuals, but it also became a forum for debates on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and geopolitical tensions.
Bodyguard observed a sharp rise in toxic comments targeting the LGBTQ+ community during and after the ceremony. For one of Bodyguard's clients in the sports industry, LGBTQIA+phobia accounted for over 65% of all hate speech messages during the Games. Additionally, there was a noticeable spike in geopolitical messages during the days surrounding the Olympic opening ceremony.
Simone Biles’ inspiring comeback
Simone Biles’ return to the Olympics in 2024 was nothing short of inspiring. After taking a courageous stand for mental health in 2021, her comeback in Paris was eagerly anticipated worldwide. Social media lit up with support, with her Instagram post stating "Mental Health Matters" quickly going viral, garnering 3.5 million likes and nearly 27,000 comments.
The Seine swimming controversy
Holding swimming events in the Seine River sparked a heated online debate. Environmentalists and health advocates raised concerns about water quality and potential risks to athletes, leading to a mix of support and opposition on social platforms.
In a positive turn, Bodyguard found that for one of its sports industry clients, supportive messages made up over 70% of all non-neutral messages during the entire period of the Games.
Gravity-defying moment
Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina delivered one of the standout moments of the Paris 2024 Olympics with a jaw-dropping aerial maneuver that seemed to defy gravity. Captured in a breathtaking photograph by Jérôme Brouillet, the image quickly went viral, collecting more than 9 million likes on Instagram and becoming an iconic symbol of the Games.
The female boxer controversy
A female boxer, Imane Khelif, faced intense online harassment after baseless accusations claimed she was transgender. Despite her denial and the lack of evidence, she was subjected to widespread abuse, highlighting the troubling intersection of gender issues and social media.
During the Olympics, Bodyguard detected and filtered out thousands of toxic comments, with the majority falling into the categories of 'LGBTQIA+phobia,' 'racism,' and 'body shaming.
Swimming sensations
French swimmer Léon Marchand became a viral sensation on TikTok during the Paris 2024 Olympics, following his impressive haul of four gold medals. Despite not having a TikTok account, Marchand was the subject of thousands videos on the platform, as users enthusiastically shared his winning performances, podium moments, and appearances outside the pool.
Similarly, Italian swimmer and gold medallist Thomas Ceccon has also captured the hearts of TikTok users. Ceccon, despite not posting his own content, has been featured in numerous videos celebrating his swimming accomplishments and his striking presence at the Games.
Viral camaraderie on the gymnastics podium
A powerful moment of sportsmanship between Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, who bowed to Rebeca Andrade after her victory in the women's floor gymnastics final, resonated deeply on social media. The viral post by the Olympic Games account on Twitter received over 180,000 retweets and 44 million views.
Medal-biting moment goes viral
Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin’s playful moment on the podium, where she joined her fellow Italian medalists in the traditional medal-biting pose, quickly became a viral sensation. An Instagram post featuring the trio’s playful gesture attracted over 3.3 million views and more than 60,000 likes.
Olympic style icons
South Korean shooter Kim Ye-ji and Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec became unexpected style icons during the Olympics. Kim's unique style and "ice-cold" demeanor captured widespread attention, while Dikec's casual, laid-back approach to competition sparked memes and comparisons online.
A video about them published by Le Parisien on YouTube has already gained 677,000 views. The art featuring these two athletes is going viral on Twitter.
Introducing Bodyguard: safeguarding the digital arena
As we’ve seen, social media can be a powerful tool for connection and celebration, but it also presents challenges. Bodyguard is here to help navigate this landscape. Our AI-driven solution monitors and moderates social media in real-time, protecting brands and communities by filtering out harmful content such as hate speech, misinformation, and abusive comments.
If you think Bodyguard can help protect your social networks, contact us today, and we’ll be happy to assist!
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