SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After two straight poor offensive showings by the San Francisco 49ers, quarterback Colin Kaepernick is starting to hear -- and see -- criticism.

Celebrated after leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl berth after his first 10 starts in the NFL, Kaepernick is getting heat, as San Francisco has scored a combined 10 points in losing the past two games.

Off to a disappointing start, Colin Kaepernick is using criticism on Twitter as a source of motivation. Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Kaepernick has been hearing criticism especially on Twitter. Many of the tweets directed at Kaepernick he has favorited. Many are vulgar while some call him a one-year wonder and others yearn for the team to bring back quarterback Alex Smith, whom Kaepernick replaced.

Asked Tuesday by media members why he favorited several unfavorable and unsavory tweets, Kaepernick said, "It's something that I do for me."

Kaepernick, usually non-expansive in group media sessions, was no different Tuesday. He failed to offer a lot of insight for his reasons, but he was clear.

"It helps me," he said.

Does he use the Twitter venom as motivation?

"I guess you could say that," Kaepernick said.

If the 49ers end a two-game losing streak Thursday in St. Louis, it could all be fueled by Twitter. However, a loss could lead to Kaepernick getting plenty more motivation from social media.