If Dean Elgar becomes Faf du Plessis' anointed successor as the Proteas' Test skipper, supporters shouldn't expect many avenues on social media to vent their frustrations at him when things get rocky.

Various platforms have allowed fans the opportunity to engage with professional sport stars, but many have become wary as abuse has become rife.

That's why you won't find the 32-year-old opener posting selfies on Instagram or sharing quirky injury updates on Twitter.

"I don't have a lot of social media so that I don't see a lot of negativity‚ because I think that players do these days because of accessibility through the phone or the laptop or whatever the case might be," said Elgar.

"I'm not going to have people come around and say things just the way they want to say and influence my thinking. That's why I've taken away the social media because I just don't like being negative. I am a positive person. 

"I think that as an individual you have that control on whether you want social media or you don't want it‚ and obviously I have chosen not to have it."

Despite him being one of the Test team's more reliable performers, Elgar hasn't been immune to the criticism levelled at the batting order over the past few seasons.

The Proteas batsmen have hardly filled their boots, but they've also had to deal with pitches overwhelmingly favouring the quicks and steadily eroding their confidence.

That's why a positive mindset remains essential, particularly for a man in his position.

"I have just done it this way so as to just focus on my performance and the team‚ and focus on the bigger picture and avoid the negative connotations that come with being an international sportsman," said Elgar.

"I think from an individual point of view you need to be quite confident in yourself and you have got to trust your ability and always think positively."

Interestingly, the debate over the use of social media also fits in with the broader issue of how to approach "hard" chats with players of different personalities.

If a player is already feeling the pinch in a team environment, is it really productive by any means to be exposed to the vitriol of fans?

And that's why Elgar believes the difficult conversations should still be confined to the team itself.

"I think you've got to know your personnel or teammates you can have hard chats with. Sometimes you've just got to sit around the same table and express what you're feeling.

"Sometimes people don't like that hearing the blunt truth and that's something that's perhaps lacking around the world at the moment. But it's always difficult, you have to trust where it's coming from. It's important that you get the how and the who from right."

- Compiled by Heinz Schenk