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Follow Me, What’s the Harm? Considerations of Catfishing and Utilizing Fake Online Personas on Social Media

Smith, Lauren Reichart ; Smith, Kenny D. ; Blazka, Matthew (2017) — Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport

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DOI: 10.1123/jlas.2016-0020 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Journal Article
Country:   United States
Tags:   Athletes, Catfishing, College Athletics, Fake Online Personas, Legal Considerations, Online Impersonation, Social Media, Social Media Monitoring
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Synopsis

            
This publication examines catfishing and the use of fake online personas in the context of sports, focusing on how deceptive profiles have appeared in both collegiate and professional settings. Grounded in case examples such as the Manti Te’o hoax and the Texas Tech coaching staff’s admission of creating pretend accounts to monitor players, the authors outline how online impersonation can raise legal, ethical, and policy questions for athletes, teams, and universities. The piece traces definitions and origins of catfishing, situating the phenomenon within broader social media practices and noting the prevalence of fake accounts on major platforms. The authors survey a range of legal theories that could apply to online impersonation and misrepresentation, including claims related to due process, privacy, copyright, defamation, emotional distress, and stalking or harassment. They discuss how state laws, such as Texas Penal Code § 33.07, have addressed online impersonation, and how some rulings have challenged the breadth of such statutes. The analysis also covers practical and institutional responses, including campus policies, training, and monitoring practices, with attention to the potential implications for student-athletes’ privacy, autonomy, and the integrity of programs. The article highlights tensions between education and surveillance, the responsibilities of coaches and staff as role models, and the potential for unintended harms or liabilities arising from the use of fake profiles. Overall, the piece calls for more proactive, policy-driven education about social media use in athletics and for careful consideration of how to balance protective measures with fundamental rights, recognizing that the legal landscape continues to evolve as online impersonation practices develop.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
The paper identifies limited research on social-media regulation in collegiate athletics and a lack of significant discussion of the education and policies followed by coaches. It also states that the extent of platform punishment for creators of fake accounts is unknown. The authors call for research into motivations for duplicitous platform use and its effects on athletes, coaching staffs, and fans.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
This is a nonempirical legal and communication-focused essay. It synthesizes reported catfishing incidents involving athletes and college programs, reviews social-media policy literature, and considers online-impersonation statutes, legal claims, and court cases. It uses the Manti Te'o hoax and Texas Tech's admitted use of fake profiles as focal examples to discuss legal, ethical, communication, and sport-management implications.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
The article does not report original data collection or a systematic sample of cases, athletes, or platforms. Several central issues are explicitly described as unknown or difficult to quantify, including the details of coaches' fake-account practices, the extent of platform sanctions, and when monitoring public accounts could constitute an illegal search. Its legal discussion also notes that laws and applicability vary by jurisdiction.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Study motivations and effects of deceptive social-media use, including impacts on coaching-staff credibility, athletes, and fan attitudes. Evaluate social-media training by monitoring college athletes' accounts and surveying athletes about use and perceived training effectiveness. Investigate journalistic verification practices and potential liabilities when sources or accounts are not properly vetted.

          

              

    
    

        
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