But social media continues to challenge campus leaders as well. Multiple states passed legislation this year to prevent campus officials from asking students for their social media passwords in an effort to monitor their accounts.
A survey by security software company AnchorFree found nearly 80 percent of college students in the U.S. and the U.K. are concerned that university authorities might be monitoring their online activities—and that they could face punishment for what campus officials are finding.
As college athletes wield more influence online, the NCAA has tried to educate athletes about responsible social media use. Some schools are using software to track their players’ Twitter feeds.
The dangers of social media were on full display in a story that captivated national attention in January—and propelled the term “catfishing” into the public eye.
On Jan. 16, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said star football player Manti Te’o was the victim of a cruel internet hoax, drawn into a virtual romance with a woman who used the phony name Lennay Kekua, and was fooled into believing she died of leukemia in September.
In the wake of the news, there were questions about whether he really was duped, as he claimed, or whether he was complicit in the hoax and misled the public, perhaps to improve his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy. Te’o came in second in the Heisman voting, propelled by one of the most compelling plot lines of the season.
The story also popularized the term “catfishing,” reinforcing how people can be manipulated easily via social media. And that’s a lesson that internet safety experts hope will catch on among students.
See also:
As athletes wield more influence online, NCAA tries to educate on social media
‘Catfishing’ the latest challenge to web safety efforts
At Temple, Twitter takes on a key role in class
Legislation says universities can’t monitor social media accounts
Students concerned about university spying
The tweeting university president: ‘Students love it’
College recruiting shifts to social media
Social media popular with faculty, but not yet in class
Elite universities lead the way in social media use
Googling of college applicants reaches all-time high
IU engaging students where they live: on social media
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