Tess Darby and Social Media
- Kasiyahna Kushkituah
- Apr 16, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 18, 2021
Tess Darby is a social media user who is considered a sharer. Darby shares personal content and information on her social media platforms. When Darby's describers her social media platforms she says,“If a stranger was to look at my social media, they can figure out who I am, and what I like to do from the pictures I post.” Darby posts all consists of basketball, fun times of herself, family and friends. Darby’s Twitter displays basketball posts and pictures which “mostly takes up my life right now.” Darby would also describe her social media as “Just for Fun” because she likes to capture the things she does for enjoyment.
Darby's cell phone battery usage says Snapchat is the most used social media platform, which was used 50% of the time she used her phone during a 6 hour period. She uses Snapchat the most because she is able to stay connected with her friends while she is away at college. Darby enjoys watching Snapchat videos of her friends and viewing their daily routines. Darby is also able to show her friends her life as a student-athlete and what her day entails. Her friends enjoy watching her post as well.
Darby also stays connected with Facebook because most people from her hometown use it. From the elderly to the young, it allows her to stay connected with what’s going on back home. One example Darby shared was that “Our school (Greenfield High school) just had their Junior Senior Prom and she was able to watch it on Facebook Live of my high school friends and go to watch them walk out.”
Darby's
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Keeping a "Lady Vol Image"
Darby's meaning of keeping a Lady Vol image means "being excellence driven. Your expected to give your ALL and nothing less because your not only to representing our school, but so many that have had the fortune of wearing this uniform. Your expected to uphold the winning tradition and while doing so, act as a role model for so many young girls that are aspiring to play basketball for such a stories program."
Darby, similar to Green, does hesitate when posting on social media as she mentions “you are on a stage here and the spotlight is on you at all times, and not only do you represent yourself, you represent the rest of the team, the brand Lady Vol, and the University.”
Darby can also agree with Green, that Twitter is the hardest platform to post on while trying not to violate anything that doesn’t keep her Lady Vol image. She mentions that Twitter is the hardest for her because it mainly consists of words which others can take offense at. The easiest platform for Darby to post on without much thought behind it is Snapchat. She uses Snapchat with her close friends so she’s able to be more free there.
If Darby was not a Lady Vol or a D1 athlete, her social media page would look different. Darby would only be representing herself and whatever she chooses to post on her platform. Darby’s social media would consist more of times she has with her friends with less effort and care, as if now she has to review her pictures closely to make sure they look decent.
Darby's Challenges on Social Media
Darby’s challenges on social media include feeling the need to fit in with others, and to understand what’s trending at the moment. Darby also struggles with using social media way too much and wants to focus more on putting it down and being present in the moment with the things and people around her. Darby is working this which will result in less "headaches".
As a Lady Vol, the biggest challenge on social media for Darby is the criticism she and the team receives from every little thing that happens. Darby says, “It might be something positive in your life and someone always has something negative to say about it, the choices you make , or the pictures you post” especially with being on the Lady Vol stage.
Darby hardly interacts with the Lady Vol fans on social media. Darby mentions how the fans can be both positive and negative, which is why she chooses not to respond overall and just ignores it so it doesn’t affect her in any way. Darby shared that she uses social media less during the basketball season because “after a win or loss, there is always something negative to say, and also just to stay focused and be so busy.”
As it comes off obvious that Darby is a Lady Vol through social media, that isn't the case for her in the real world. Darby talks about how it is different for her when she is public and people wouldn’t see the same Lady Vol basketball player image she shows on social media. Darby gives an example of “walking in the mall, I am a lot different from you (Kasiyahna Kushkituah), because you play so everyone notices you but hopefully as I progress and get older, people will start recognize I do play but I am always careful with what I do out in public and how I am seen.” Even though she had limited playing time her freshman year, she continues to maintain her Lady Vol image in public.
Darby's Social Media Awareness
Darby views and looks at what other’s tag her in, more so promoting it. With Darby being tagged in various post, it brings her attention and awareness to current issues and events in the world.
One post that would be a highlight her recent years happened while being on the Lady Vol Platform. The Lady Vols took a knee during this season’s National Anthem at their home game against Arkansas. During the Anthem, Darby was the only Lady Vol player that stood while still continuing to hold the hands of her teammates. There were several negative comments on social media towards her, but more people than she could count, both publicly and privately, reached out to her and 'thanked her for standing'. Darby humble experience came from people she never met before, and people she has known all her life reached out to her. Darby states that the team knows that “I support them in other ways, like y'all support me, and overall we want to come across and get that movement out there and help prevent what’s going on.”
Want to know more about that specific time, check out link here: https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30671289/most-tennessee-lady-volunteers-players-kneel-national-anthem-wake-capitol-riot
Darby's Social Media Voice
Darby's voice on her social media platform is used when necessary. Darby does like to retweet posts on Twitter and repost on Instagram stories with stuff that mostly goes on in the music world. Darby was able to use her social media platforms to help promote her father's campaign as she mentions, “this time last year with COVID, that was the only way you could promote him for our county, so everything was social media, calling and sending messages.”
Darby’s father, Tandy Darby, ran for Tennessee District 76 State Representative which covers her hometown Greenfield Tennessee, and her hometown county, Weakley County and two surrounding counties, Obion and Carroll county. Mr. Darby has been put on many boards with other Tennessee state representatives. Darby finds that cool because “being in college in the state of Tennessee, he gets to represent us, the Lady Vols, and the state capitol.” Mr. Darby is also on educational boards as well, which he would ask her about college because he gets to vote on decisions being made. He has made connections with the University's Chancellor and Athletic Director.
People were able to make the connection with the two, Tess and Tandy Darby and the Lady Vols, and make the connection to a Father of a Lady Vol.
Prior to being a Lady Vol, Darby did have fun participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014, which consisted of pouring a bucket of ice water over a person’s head to help promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Darby participated in this challenge because of what was trending at that time and posted it on her social media. By making this post more than 5 years ago, it is always searchable.
Have you ever used your voice on a platform to promote an important cause?
Sources:
Voepel, Mechelle. “Most of Tennessee Lady Volunteers Players Kneel during National Anthem in Wake of Capitol Riot.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 8 Jan. 2021, www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30671289/most-tennessee-lady-volunteers-players-kneel-national-anthem-wake-capitol-riot.
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