Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
20-4-2018 10:45 AM
End Date
20-4-2018 12:00 PM
Keywords
social media, constraints, athletes
Biography
Public Communication Major; Dean's List, Scholarship Athlete Basketball
Major
Communication Studies
Advisor for this project
Dr. Cam Brammer
Abstract
The overall purpose of the study conducted was to examine the relationship between college athletes’ social media usage and the constraints that they face from their university’s social media policies.
Scholarly Rationale:
College athletes are monitored closely when it comes to what they post on their social media accounts by the institutions they play for as well as the National Collegiate Athletics Association. The NCAA places strict rules on college athletes and some have even lost their scholarships due to certain scenarios that have occurred with regards to what they have posted on their social media accounts. “College scouts don’t just look at the player and their abilities on the field, but also how the player, the person, acts off the field; even what they post on social media” (Toler, 2017). The public often views the NCAA as an employer and the student-athlete as a current employee. The athletes’ behavior influences the perceptions about their University and the NCAA. JD Campbell, Indiana University’s assistant athletic director and head sports information director for men’s basketball stated in a recent interview that “It’s just important to be honest and important to remind them as much as you possibly can, that your reputation is always on the line” (Osterman, 2015). Whenever college athletes are reprimanded for their social media posts, speculation brews about whether the athlete fully understood institutional rules surrounding the topic. Free speech advocates argue that it is unfair to take away an athlete’s basic rights as a United States citizen and not allow them freedom of speech on their own personal accounts.
The Relationsgip Between College Athletes' Social Media Useage and University Constraints on that Useage
The overall purpose of the study conducted was to examine the relationship between college athletes’ social media usage and the constraints that they face from their university’s social media policies.
Scholarly Rationale:
College athletes are monitored closely when it comes to what they post on their social media accounts by the institutions they play for as well as the National Collegiate Athletics Association. The NCAA places strict rules on college athletes and some have even lost their scholarships due to certain scenarios that have occurred with regards to what they have posted on their social media accounts. “College scouts don’t just look at the player and their abilities on the field, but also how the player, the person, acts off the field; even what they post on social media” (Toler, 2017). The public often views the NCAA as an employer and the student-athlete as a current employee. The athletes’ behavior influences the perceptions about their University and the NCAA. JD Campbell, Indiana University’s assistant athletic director and head sports information director for men’s basketball stated in a recent interview that “It’s just important to be honest and important to remind them as much as you possibly can, that your reputation is always on the line” (Osterman, 2015). Whenever college athletes are reprimanded for their social media posts, speculation brews about whether the athlete fully understood institutional rules surrounding the topic. Free speech advocates argue that it is unfair to take away an athlete’s basic rights as a United States citizen and not allow them freedom of speech on their own personal accounts.
