NCAA bans Instagram photo filters
The NCAA is often criticized for its strict rules and practices, and restrictions like this are not going to help the organization’s image.
In an “educational column” posted on the NCAA’s website Wednesday, rules pertaining to photos sent to prospective student-athletes (aka recruits) were discussed.
There was one particular rule that stands out because it reflects everything that makes the NCAA so petty and unlikable. Apparently Instagram photo filters are a violation of NCAA rules.
Here’s what the column explains about the rule (the column was written in a question-and-answer format):
Question: May a coach take a photo and use software (e.g., Instagram, Photoshop, Camera Awesome, Camera+,) to enhance the content of the photo (e.g., changed color of photo to sepia tones or add content to the photograph), and send it to a prospective student-athlete as an attachment it to an email or direct social media message?
Answer: No, a photograph that has been altered or staged for a recruiting purpose cannot be sent to a prospective student-athlete.
Instagram is a social media service based around users uploading photos. It offers different tools to add a filter to the photo, such as turning an image black and white. And that’s considered an NCAA violation for coaches.
It’s rules like this that led former Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden to say that the NCAA makes it impossible to run a clean program. While some violations are more serious than others, something like this seems so petty that it makes you wonder why the NCAA bothers with it.
As lame as this rule is, it may not be the most seemingly pointless rule the NCAA has created. This one for sure is.
Also see
Vitamin Water drinks banned by NCAA
Mississippi State billboards ruled an NCAA violation
