2026 WBC's Blanket Social Media Ban Sparks Outcry from Fans: 'Incredibly Anachronistic!'
An announcement prohibiting the posting of "any photos or videos" by spectators at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) has caused a significant stir on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Fans have expressed widespread disappointment and questions regarding this unprecedented measure, which also applies to warm-up games. According to reports from outlets such as Livedoor News and Kyodo News, the organizers of the WBC Group C first round (WBCI and co-host Yomiuri Shimbun) announced that the transmission or aiding in the transmission of photos, images, videos, audio, and their descriptions or commentaries, using any medium, will be prohibited during games, practices, and pre-game, post-game, and between-inning activities. This announcement has drawn sharp criticism from many users, particularly in an era where social media is the primary means of information sharing, with comments like "Is this the Showa era?!" and "This is incredibly anachronistic....