21-01-2010, 08:01 AM
Manchester United Football Club has posted a message on its website explaining that its players do not belong to online social networks.
It advises users to treat any profiles in the names of its players with "extreme scepticism".
The club says this is because of the high numbers of people impersonating team members online.
There are many accounts across social network sites which claim to be in the name of high profile footballers.
"We don't want to stop players doing what they like within reason in their spare time," a Manchester United spokesperson told BBC News.
"But we do advise our players - especially the young lads - to be careful."
Manchester United players Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher are believed to have had genuine accounts on Twitter, which are now closed.
"It wouldn't have been us who stopped them," said the spokesperson.
Digital communications expert Louis Halpern said he believes Manchester United is attempting to control the leaking of sensitive information.
However banning players from using Twitter would be "draconian" he said.
"People respond most passionately to other people online, and Twitter provides a huge opportunity for teams to really tap into their fan-base support," said Mr Halpern.
Footballers and Twitter do not always mix well.
Last year, Sunderland striker Darren Bent caused controversy after using the service to rant about the transfer negotiations with Tottenham, his former club.
Source: bbc.co.uk
So, maybe Ben Foster won't be joining us, after all?
Having said that:
A social media expert has warned that Manchester United and Manchester City football clubs have made a mistake in telling players not to use social networking sites.
The footballers have been advised against posting personal information on the internet after they were targeted by a raft of fake accounts.
The Manchester Evening News reported that the players have been told not to use Twitter and Facebook.
Manchester United posted a statement to fans on its website warning fans that no players from the team maintain personal profiles on social networking websites.
City also confirmed to MEN that players at Eastlands have been advised not to set up social networking pages.
Lewis PR digital director Eb Adeyeri said: ‘Millions of football fans from across the globe use social media sites such as Twitter to debate, discuss and interact with their football icons every day. A blanket ban such as this will put a brick wall between the two. Social media sites are not the enemy. They are a medium for clubs to better engage with their supporters, wherever they may be.'
He added: ‘A better policy would be to encourage them to make use of sites like Twitter but draw up a series of robust usage guidelines - so, for example, players can't talk about internal matters or team selection. This would mean footballers can continue to engage with the supporters while minimising the risk of sensitive information being leaked.'
Source: brandrepublic.com
It advises users to treat any profiles in the names of its players with "extreme scepticism".
The club says this is because of the high numbers of people impersonating team members online.
There are many accounts across social network sites which claim to be in the name of high profile footballers.
"We don't want to stop players doing what they like within reason in their spare time," a Manchester United spokesperson told BBC News.
"But we do advise our players - especially the young lads - to be careful."
Manchester United players Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher are believed to have had genuine accounts on Twitter, which are now closed.
"It wouldn't have been us who stopped them," said the spokesperson.
Digital communications expert Louis Halpern said he believes Manchester United is attempting to control the leaking of sensitive information.
However banning players from using Twitter would be "draconian" he said.
"People respond most passionately to other people online, and Twitter provides a huge opportunity for teams to really tap into their fan-base support," said Mr Halpern.
Footballers and Twitter do not always mix well.
Last year, Sunderland striker Darren Bent caused controversy after using the service to rant about the transfer negotiations with Tottenham, his former club.
Source: bbc.co.uk
So, maybe Ben Foster won't be joining us, after all?
Having said that:
A social media expert has warned that Manchester United and Manchester City football clubs have made a mistake in telling players not to use social networking sites.
The footballers have been advised against posting personal information on the internet after they were targeted by a raft of fake accounts.
The Manchester Evening News reported that the players have been told not to use Twitter and Facebook.
Manchester United posted a statement to fans on its website warning fans that no players from the team maintain personal profiles on social networking websites.
City also confirmed to MEN that players at Eastlands have been advised not to set up social networking pages.
Lewis PR digital director Eb Adeyeri said: ‘Millions of football fans from across the globe use social media sites such as Twitter to debate, discuss and interact with their football icons every day. A blanket ban such as this will put a brick wall between the two. Social media sites are not the enemy. They are a medium for clubs to better engage with their supporters, wherever they may be.'
He added: ‘A better policy would be to encourage them to make use of sites like Twitter but draw up a series of robust usage guidelines - so, for example, players can't talk about internal matters or team selection. This would mean footballers can continue to engage with the supporters while minimising the risk of sensitive information being leaked.'
Source: brandrepublic.com
