Twitter 
Team USA basketball star LeBron James posted this photo on the social media photo site, Instagram, with the caption: “Me with one of the best the game of basketball has to offer #USA.”
“Breaking: USA wins gold medal in synchronized NBC bashing.” Twitter has been flooded with tweets like that one expressing outrage over NBC’s coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games.
People are upset about everything from the time-delayed broadcast of the opening ceremonies to lackluster commentary.
Social media is giving NBC critics a new venue. It’s also giving athletes a place to post photos, congratulate each other and post Justin Bieber shout-outs!
More tweets are being sent each day this Olympics than during all of the Beijing games, which is why the London Games are being called the “first social Olympics.”
Despite the criticism, NBC is reporting record prime time ratings for its coverage.
- YouTube: US Soccer Player ‘Sucker Punched’
- Mashable: Olympians Chafe At Social Media Rules
- PC Mag: 10 Olympic Athletes To Follow
- Justin Bieber Zone: Bieber Tweets Canadian Athlete
- Buzz Feed: Never Fall Asleep Near An NBA Player
Tweeps To Follow
- Jeff Bell, NBC executive producer of @nbcolympics
- Lolo Jones, American hurdler
- Dominique Pegg, Canadian gymnast
- LeBron James, U.S. men’s basketball
- @NBCDelayed: Parody account
Guest:
- Sam Laird, social media and sports reporter for Mashable. He tweets @samcmlaird
