Page Number
37
Abstract
The NCAA’s ongoing “Draw the Line” campaign raises awareness to end online abuse related to sports betting, racism, sexism, and other categories which student-athletes increasingly face. However, this awareness does not force abusers to stop, nor have student-athletes ever challenged abusers under relevant criminal law for three reasons. First, it is difficult for law enforcement to identify anonymous digital suspects under the Fourth Amendment. Second, “cyberbullying,” “cyberstalking,” and other relevant statutes have limited application towards student-athletes. Third, defendants hold established content-based and overbreadth challenges to those statutes under the First Amendment. As these compounding issues give student-athletes no legal recourse against online abuse, a new federal law that prosecutes true threats against student-athletes is desperately needed to protect their mental health.
Recommended Citation
Lamb, Ethan
(2026)
"Student-Athlete “Cyberbullying” and Its Absence of Legal Recourse,"
Denver Sports & Entertainment Law Journal: Vol. 31:
Iss.
1, Article 6.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/selj/vol31/iss1/6