Indi Hartwell knows social media can help wrestlers connect with fans, but she also made it clear that there is a downside when people get too much access.
During an interview with Dom D’Angelo, Hartwell was asked about balancing fan connection with still keeping some mystery around herself. The conversation focused on how different things are now compared to older generations, when fans could not just message wrestlers directly online. Hartwell said the current social media world gives fans an easy path to wrestlers, and that can create problems.
“With social media in this day and age, like it’s so easy for a fan to have direct access to a wrestler and sometimes it’s not a good thing.”
That is why Hartwell believes many wrestlers keep their guard up online. She also admitted that people have described her that way in the past. Hartwell said keeping that wall up can be healthy, especially because some fans can form parasocial relationships with wrestlers.
“And that’s why that’s why a lot of wrestlers are very guarded. I’ve been told that I in the past that I’m bit mysterious and guarded and obviously I don’t show my whole life on social media and on YouTube.”
“So, it is good to keep like that wall up because people create maybe like parasocial relationships.”
She also pointed out how strange it is to think about legends from past eras being available to fans on social media now. Hartwell brought up The Undertaker as an example, saying it would have been hard to imagine as a kid that she could have messaged a wrestler directly and maybe even gotten a response.
“It’s crazy like even thinking about how The Undertaker has an in a Twitter or an ex these days. Like I can’t even fathom that like when I was little I could have like tweeted to the Undertaker or to or to a wrestler really and there’s like a possibility that they’ll see it and respond.”
Even with the risks, Hartwell said social media can still be a powerful tool when used the right way. She pointed to Matt Cardona’s run as Zack Ryder and his Z True Long Island Story YouTube series as an example of a wrestler using online content to build a stronger fanbase.
“It’s a good way for wrestlers to make a connection with the fans to then get them on their side.”
Hartwell said Cardona was ahead of the curve when it came to wrestlers making YouTube content. Hartwell also explained that her own goal with YouTube is not about exposing every part of her life. She wants fans to see enough of the real her to feel a connection, while still keeping some boundaries.
“I think like one of the best examples of that is when Matt Cardona or Zack Ryder did Z True Long Island story. He was kind of like a trailblazer for wrestlers making YouTube videos and that made a lot of people a fan of his and got a lot of people on his side.”
“But ultimately, I just wanted to show people me and kind of not like win them over, I guess, but make them think like, okay, she’s she’s pretty cool. Like, I could support her. I could support her.”
Indi Hartwell is not saying wrestlers should shut fans out completely, but she clearly understands why many performers protect themselves online. Social media can build support fast, but it can also blur lines when fans feel like they know someone personally just because they see their posts.
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