Voula Papachristou: Olympic Ban Highlights the Negative Consequences of Twitter

Twitter is raw.

There aren’t publicists and promoters there to review a message before the publish button is pressed. There are no censors or editors to review the text before it’s released to the masses.

The word “Post” is like Regis asking if it’s your final answer; there’s no going back.

It’s gotten countless public figures and athletes in trouble, and Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou is the latest to experience the consequences of releasing a controversial 140 characters for the world to read.

She tweeted out a racist joke that caused an uproar, and the Hellenic Olympic Committee removed her from the country’s team.

After training the vast majority of her life for the Olympics, Papachristou’s dreams have gone up in flames over 140 characters.

I’m not here to debate if the punishment was just or not, but odds are this isn’t going to be the last Twitter controversy of the 2012 Olympics.

The social media sensation is used by virtually every athlete nowadays to promote products, their team and, most importantly, themselves. When used properly, it’s the easiest way for stars to connect to their fans and speak with them directly. It’s the perfect vehicle to cut out the middle man.

The problem lies in the freedom that comes with it.

The old “my Twitter got hacked excuse” doesn’t fly anymore; if you post something offensive or controversial, the consequences are going to be harsh.

Papachristou’s poor attempt at humor was sent to almost 10,000 of her followers in a split second. Once it’s posted, a screen shot of it can be taken in an instant, regardless of how quickly the tweet is deleted.

Some have deemed the 2012 Games as the “social media games," which gives you an idea of just how big the vehicle has become.

I think Time Magazine’s Sean Gregory sums up how athletes at the Olympics should be using Twitter over the next two weeks brilliantly:

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Olympic athletes might want to treat social media like fatty foods, excessive late-night frivolity before their competitions, and steroids.

Stay away.

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Is an attempt at humor worth shattering your Olympic dreams?

Aside from insensitive comments that can potentially be made, I think the real danger of Twitter will come late-night in the Olympic village. The partying and socializing each night is going to be incredible, and a booze-infused tweet could spell a death sentence for an athlete by the time sunshine hits the next morning.

What happens in the Olympic village needs to stay in the Olympic village.

If I’m a coach for some sort of team or individual, I tell them to keep off Twitter entirely. Sure, it may be cool to send out pictures posing with other famous athletes, but the consequences of one stupid tweet could be career suicide.

Just ask Voula Papachristou.

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