The Role of PLL Athletic Metrics in Shaping Network Externality Effects on Social Media

Jubei Bao

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.LC26640

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

The Role of PLL Athletic Metrics in Shaping Network Externality Effects on Social Media

Research Article

Open Access

The Role of PLL Athletic Metrics in Shaping Network Externality Effects on Social Media

Jubei Bao ^1*

¹ Beijing National Day School

^*Corresponding author: andrewbjb@hotmail.com

Published on 9 September 2025

CHR Vol.76

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-146-4

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-284-3

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Abstract

This study investigates how athletic performance influences the number of Instagram followers, revealing the role of social media network externalities in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). Using comprehensive player performance data and social media metrics from the 2024 season, the study employs a grouped regression model to analyze the effects of scoring, assists, and steals on follower count, while examining the heterogeneity between offensive/midfield and defensive players. Results show that scoring and assists significantly and positively affect follower counts for offensive players, whereas the athletic performance of defensive players has limited impact on their social media influence. Additionally, both professional experience and social media experience exhibit strong positive effects across player groups. The findings highlight the interaction between athletic performance and digital presence in niche sports, offering empirical insights into personal brand building and strategic communication. This study underscores the importance of offensive performance in enhancing player visibility and suggests that media strategies should be tailored to player roles. It also recommends future research to incorporate time-series data in order to better capture the dynamics of social media growth over time and further clarify the mechanisms behind network externality effects in professional sports.

Keywords:

Athletic Performance, Social Media Externality, Instagram Followers, Premier Lacrosse League (PLL)

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References

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References

[1]. Athletes and sports competitors.. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025, April 18. https: //www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/athletes-and-sports-competitors.htm.

[2]. Premier Lacrosse League.. News - Premier Lacrosse League , 2019, April 29. https: //premierlacrosseleague.com/news.

[3]. Hemme, F., Morais, D. G., & Lukow, J.. Strategic social media marketing for the Premier Lacrosse League. Case Studies in Sport Management, 2020, 9(S1), S1–S8.

[4]. ESPN Press Room - for Media Professionals (formerly ESPN MediaZone)..ESPN Press Room U.S. 2024, June 12, https: //espnpressroom.com.

[5]. Premier Lacrosse League Stats. (n.d.). Premier Lacrosse League Stats. https: //stats.premierlacrosseleague.com/players.

[7]. Su, Y., Baker, B. J., Doyle, J. P., & Kunkel, T..The rise of an athlete brand: Factors influencing the social media following of athletes. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 2020, 29(1), 33–46.

[10]. Thane, M., Viswanathan, V., Meyer, T. C., Paisios, E., & Schleyer, M. Modulations of microbehaviour by associative memory strength in Drosophila larvae. PLoS ONE, 2019, 14(10), e0224154.

Cite this article

Bao,J. (2025). The Role of PLL Athletic Metrics in Shaping Network Externality Effects on Social Media. Communications in Humanities Research,76,28-36.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICADSS 2025 Symposium: Art, Identity, and Society: Interdisciplinary Dialogues

ISBN: 978-1-80590-146-4(Print) / 978-1-80590-284-3(Online)

Editor: Ioannis Panagiotou, Yanhua Qin

Conference website: https://2025.icadss.org/Lincoln.html

Conference date: 22 August 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.76

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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