As we all know, social media has become a phenomenon in nearly all facets of society. Whether it be for advertising or personal entertainment, social media has become an outlet or one person or organization to communicate with others. The world of athletics is no exception. However, there is one specific area of athletics that I would like to take a look at – college athletics. Professional athletes first of all, are technically adults who are considered to be old enough to be fully aware of the ramifications of their actions. Secondly, professional athletes to a large degree are their own brand, so their thoughts and feelings are much more personalized. However, it is a slightly, maybe even largely different scenario when you look at college athletes. Not only do college athletes represent their personal brand, but also the brand of an institution of higher learning, one who in all cases looks to maintain a certain level of credibility, distinction and integrity. Therefore, when a student-athlete engages in social media, they are indirectly carrying the banner for their institution, whether willingly or unwillingly.

What role can the university play in an athlete’s decision to partake in social media? Should an academic institution concern itself with the postings on one of its student-athletes? If so, why would there not be the same concern for a non-athlete? Does a university have the right monitor, or regulate an athlete’s social media posts? Does the Constitution protect the athlete’s freedom of speech? What steps have certain universities taken to monitor their athletes’ social media exploits? Do these universities take the same initiative to monitor their own social media usage? And is there any sort of regulation over what a third party decides to post about the student athlete?

Much emphasis is placed on the athlete’s use of social media. In 2011, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote an article about some of the steps taken by some of the nation’s NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I (the highest classification of college athletics) programs. While the NCAA itself does not have a social media policy for member universities, several schools have implemented their own policies. As a result of there not being an official policy by the governing body of college athletics, it has given the individual institutions, athletic directors and coaches the freedom to establish their own regulations for athletes’ use of social media.

Some universities have chosen to construct their own policies for social media usage. On the Dartmouth University athletic web site, you can find a official “Student-Athlete Social Media Policy”. This policy goes into effect for a student-athlete upon signing his letter of intent, and any violation of the policy can result in temporary or permanent dismissal from their respective team. 

I tend to agree with the position taken by Eric Stoller in his article written earlier this year. There is a lot of hypocrisy in college sports. This phenomenon of social media is just another example. While coaches have the  freedom to post as they please, the athletes in some of these institutions are being monitored and controlled. I find it very ironic that a young man who is old enough to be drafted into an army to fight for his country doesn’t even have the freedom to use social media without limitations. Stoller challenges these coaches and administrators, and rightfully so. First and foremost, these people are “educators” as he states. Therefore, instead of banning them or limiting their use of social media, these institutions should educate them about the risks and rewards, and how to protect themselves from making critical mistakes in social media.

Also ironic is the fact that the social media that is being banned or has stipulations placed on it for student-athletes is the same social media that many coaches are using to recruit them. As John Talty mentions, not only do coaches utilize social media to push out information about their programs, but also as a valuable recruiting tool. Whereas a coach has certain times known as “dead periods” where phone calls and text messages to prospective athletes are impermissible, there are not yet rules in place addressing a college coach direct messaging a recruit via Twitter or Facebook, or even using Skype to contact a player. Yet, once on campus, the university can dictate an athlete’s use of social media. Something is not right about this to me…

Dartmouth University’s Student-Athlete Social Media Policy http://www.dartmouthsports..com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11600&ATCLID=205437343