My January 2013 talk for student-athletes at St. Lawrence University on navigating the differing demands and pressures of being a private person, a student, an athlete, a celebrity, and an ambassador of St. Lawrence while cultivating an online personality.

1. Being Yourself in a
Social Media World
Mark H. Anbinder • mhaithaca
• mha@14850.com

2. • Why are we here today?
• What to avoid
• Sharing, retweeting, mentioning
• Friending, following, subscribing
• Thinking about your “brand” and your future
• Photos and more
• Rivalries, team spirit, and taking the high road
• NCAA compliance
• Dealing with trolls
• Flubs will happen; how to handle the aftermath

3. Why are we here today?
AP • Joe Raymond

4. Social media can help you...
• Build your “brand”
• Interact with fans
• Represent St. Lawrence
• Meet people and have fun
Why are we here today?

5. Should you be on...?
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Foursquare
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest, Tumblr, Flickr, etc.
...and how private should your account
be?
Why are we here today?

6. Don’t be a dick. — Wil Wheaton
What to Avoid

7. Who took Lauren’s side?
What to Avoid
You probably know this guy...

8. Think about who might be watching
What to Avoid

9. • Spread the love!
• Fans love the interaction
• Even if it’s not your words, think twice
• Don’t share private content
Sharing, Retweeting,
Mentioning

10. Sharing, Retweeting,
Mentioning

11. Sharing, Retweeting,
Mentioning

12. How about photos?

13. Good Examples...

14. • Everyone knows your name
• Let people subscribe to your Facebook
• It’s nice, not necessary, to follow back
• Public vs private feeds
• Public and friends-only posts
• Do you have to let them follow you?
Friending, Following,
Subscribing

15. • Once it’s out there, it’s out there forever
• Never post anything you wouldn’t want
to
see in the New York Times
• Never post anything you wouldn’t want
your mom to see
Thinking about your
Brand and your Future

16. • Once it’s out there, it’s out there forever
• Never post anything you wouldn’t want
to
see in the New York Times
• Never post anything you wouldn’t want
your mom to see
• Never post anything you wouldn’t want
your coach to see
Photos and more

17. Photos and more

18. Rivalries, team spirit,
and taking the high road

19. Rivalries, team spirit,
and taking the high road

20. Rivalries, team spirit,
and taking the high road
• Be spirited but be respectful!
• When the game is over, the game is
over

21. NCAA Compliance
• You are always a student-athlete, even
online
• Be careful communicating with recruits
• Could anything you say be
misinterpreted?
• No betting on the Super Bowl!

22. Dealing with Trolls
• “Could you please play better tonight?”
• “I follow you for __. Stop tweeting about
__.”
• “Let’s Go Tech!”

23. Dealing with Trolls
• Take the high road!
• You don’t have to engage
• You are always representing the
University
• The block button is your friend

24. What about
impersonators?

25. What about
impersonators?

26. Flubs will happen.

27. Flubs will happen.

28. Flubs will happen.

29. Any questions?
Mark H. Anbinder • mhaithaca
• mha@14850.com