NFL restricts teams and players from posting videos, GIFs

For some, running a professional football team’s social media accounts seems like a dream job.

Instead, it’s become a precarious venture where fines lurk at every misstep.

Starting this week, the National Football League won’t let social media managers post their own GIFs and video from inside the stadium. Only league-approved footage can be posted. The league has banned live-streaming video platforms such as Periscope, Snapchat and Facebook Live from kickoff until an hour after the game.

Players are also barred from posting their own highlights, videos and GIFs. Similar to teams’ media managers, players are allowed to post NFL-owned content.

Teams that violate the policy will reportedly face fines of $25,000 for the first offense, $50,000 for the second and up to $100,000 for instances thereafter. Teams can also lose the right to post league-controlled content.

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The move is a tricky one for the NFL.

On one hand, it wants to control who’s posting what and ensure that it’s aligned with the league’s values and brand standards.

On the other hand, it’s experiencing a ratings drop, one scandal after another, a marquee player who was dragged through a lengthy court process and a handful of historically underperforming teams.

The NFL could use all the goodwill it can get. Cracking down on social media posts is not a way to earn it.

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