Mississippi-based C Spire has announced a partnership with two major college athletes to promote healthy social media usage.
The telecommunications company announced Friday that it is collaborating with Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and Mississippi State basketball guard Josh Hubbard to promote positive digital technology and social media habits while helping make the digital world safer for people and businesses.
According to a press release, recent research has linked social media usage to issues such as anxiety and depression in teenagers. Though some data shows that social media can help teenagers feel more connected and accepted, studies by Yale Medicine assert social media also can expose youth to bullying, envy, peer pressure, and other inappropriate content that may result in negative mental and physical outcomes.
Hubbard, coming off a sensational freshman campaign with the Bulldogs, believes the partnership is important for encouraging others to use social media for positive purposes while also cultivating relationships with others outside of internet spheres. The Madison-Ridgeland Academy alum and reigning Howell Trophy says social media has been important for him, but not his source of joy.
“Growing up, social media has always been a part of the conversation, but I haven’t allowed that to tell my story,” Hubbard said. “Social media has a ton of benefits, but developing deep relationships with my family, friends, and coaches outside of social media has always been important to me, too.”
After helping lead Ole Miss to the program’s first 11-win season one year ago, Dart has emerged as one of the biggest names in college football going into the upcoming campaign. The Rebel quarterback, known for his leadership skills both on and off the field, is hopeful the partnership will allow him to use his platform to be a beacon of positivity for others.
“I’ve had the right people in my corner who helped guide me through and make sure that I saw things for what they were instead of what was shown online,” Dart said. “By partnering with C Spire, I want to be able to help other people embrace that and grow each and every day.”
This partnership is not C Spire’s first rodeo with an athlete collaboration. The company launched a “Don’t Text and Drive” campaign in 2010 with then-rookie NFL player Dexter McCluster.
