FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOINT PARTNERSHIP RELEASES RESULTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA EDUCATION FINDINGS IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Seven-of-Ten Student-Athletes Report Social Media is the #1 Way They Communicate.

Survey Results Highlight Critical Need to Educate Student-Athletes, Coaches and Staff with Comprehensive Social Media Programs.

NASHVILLE, TN (January 17, 2017) – Prompted by the increase in reported cases of cyberbullying and cyber safety issues for collegiate athletic constituents, The National Social Media Initiative in Athletics (NSMIA), Social Media Sports Management (SM2) and SociallyReady released findings of an independent survey to over 3,800 collegiate athletic student-athletes, coaches and staff regarding social media education. The announcement was timed to coincide with the 2017 NCAA Convention.

“The survey was inspired by the 2016 UCLA study in which researchers scanned participant’s brains with MRI imaging while using social media,” stated Carrie G. Cecil, CEO, SM2. “One of the most interesting revelations of the UCLA study was how the brain’s reward circuitry is deeply impacted by engagement on social media – in order to create meaningful education we have to take a step back to better understand the ‘why’ thus that is what we did.”

“This independent survey’s findings allow digital education teams like SM2 to add or delete curriculum and pivot any deployment methodology in order to truly impact decision-making before the brain is stimulated on social media.” Stated Meghan Hanson, former assistant general counsel, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and NSMIA Advocate.

The survey was developed and conducted in 2016-17 and focused on social media educational standards including deployment methodology and content with a focus of measuring behavioral barriers that might stand in the way of improving the social media eco-system in college athletics.

Survey Assessment:

  • Primary uses for social media.
  • General understanding of net safety on social media.
  • Deployment standards for social media education/training.
  • Preferred deployment methodology.
  • Content needs for educational programs.

Noteworthy Results:

Survey Participants:

  • 70.31% Student-Athletes.
  • 28.13% Coaches.
  • 1.56 % Staff.

Social Media is ________:

  • 75.00% The primary way I communicate.
  • 14.06 % Part of my job.
  • 3.13 % Other.

Deployment methodology for social media education:

  • 84.13% of participants prefer to receive their social media education program online and to log-in and log-out of the program.
  • 6.35% of participants prefer to receive their social media education in-person/presentation.
  • 9.52% of participants prefer to receive their social media education program online in-person.

For additional survey findings contact info@teamsm2.com or call 323.484.2283 to schedule a meeting with SM2 during the NCAA Convention.

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About Social Media Sports Management                                                                

Social Media Sports Management (SM2) protects and maximizes valuable sports brands through digital, social media and real-time communications strategies, coaching, education, tactics, empowerment and teams. SM2 is part of a national initiative designed to educate, empower and equip the athletic industry on social media. The company has offices in Los Angeles; Charleston, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; and St. Louis.

About The National Social Media Initiative in Athletics

The National Social Media Initiative in Athletics is a founding movement dedicated to establishing a standard of digital excellence by championing foundational education, providing best practices, necessary tools, policies and procedures to empower, equip and mitigate risk in the lives of athletic stakeholders and their constituents. The pioneering resource teams are committed to positively impacting the climate of social media in athletics.

 For more information please contact, please contact:

Tyler Lewis: Info@teamsm2.com