Welcome, student-athletes, to the digital playing field! As you embark on your academic and athletic journey, it's crucial to understand the impact of your social media presence. This page serves as your playbook, providing insights on maintaining a positive online image and avoiding potential pitfalls.
Dos and Don'ts of Student-Athlete Social Media Conduct
Dos:
-
Showcase Sportsmanship: Celebrate victories with humility and acknowledge opponents with respect. Your posts should reflect the values of fair play and camaraderie.
-
Engage Positively: Use your platform to inspire and uplift. Share your academic achievements, community involvement, and team successes to foster a positive online community.
-
Protect Your Privacy: Be mindful of what you share. Ensure your personal information, team strategies, and sensitive details remain confidential to maintain a secure online presence.
-
Know Your Team's Policies: Familiarize yourself with your team's social media guidelines. Different sports programs may have specific rules to uphold the team's reputation.
-
Balance Your Content: Beyond sports, share aspects of your life that showcase your personality. Let your followers see the well-rounded individual behind the athlete.
Don'ts:
-
Trash Talk or Bully: Avoid engaging in negative conversations or bullying online. Maintain professionalism, even in the face of adversity.
-
Overuse or Misuse Hashtags: While hashtags can boost visibility, using them excessively or inappropriately can dilute your message. Be strategic and intentional with their usage.
-
Post Offensive Content: Offensive language, discriminatory remarks, or inappropriate images have no place in your online presence. They can tarnish your reputation and that of your team.
-
Ignore Your Audience: Engage with your followers and respond to messages when appropriate. Ignoring your audience can create a disconnect and may lead to misunderstandings.
-
Disregard the Impact of Retweets/Shares: Even if you didn't create the content, sharing or retweeting implies endorsement. Be cautious about the content you amplify, ensuring it aligns with your values.
Dangers and Ramifications
In the digital era, your online presence can have significant consequences. Inappropriate conduct on social media may lead to:
-
Damage to Personal and Team Reputation: A single post can tarnish your image and that of your team, affecting relationships with fans, sponsors, and future opportunities.
- Impact on Mental Health: Cyberbullying or negative online interactions can have severe consequences on mental well-being. Maintain a healthy balance between your online and offline life.
-
Disciplinary Actions: Violating team or school policies may result in disciplinary actions, impacting your eligibility to participate in games and tournaments.
As you navigate the world of student-athlete social media conduct, remember that your online presence is an extension of your identity. Be mindful, be positive, and use your platform to inspire and connect. Play smart, both on the field and online, to ensure a successful and fulfilling academic and athletic journey.
If Centennial College staff are made aware of inappropriate social media behaviour, the department will act and respond accordingly to ensure that accountability is maintained.
If you have questions or concerns about AR's social media policy, kindly contact Sports Information Officer, Ryan Miller at Rmiller@centennialcollege.ca