SEATTLE — Iowa center Monika Czinano undertook a cleanse of sorts as the Hawkeyes began the postseason. Before the Big Ten tournament, she opened up her phone, found the icons for Twitter and Instagram, held them down and removed the applications.
Though Czinano briefly downloaded both for Selection Sunday, citing a desire to see the celebratory content made about the Hawkeyes, she deleted them again before the NCAA Tournament tipped off. “I didn’t realize how big of a help it would be until I did it,” Czinano says. “It has really changed my life. I don’t know if I’ll put it back.”
One notable social media app, however, has remained on her phone throughout March: TikTok, the short-form video app that has boomed in recent years. “My TikTok is cooking videos and puppies,” Czinano said. “It’s nothing that’s draining me in any way.”
Advancing to the Sweet 16 is a significant accomplishment for several programs. Ole Miss, for instance, hadn’t reached this stage since 2007. Virginia Tech hasn’t been here since 1999, Miami since 1992, or Villanova since 2003. It’s an achievement worth celebrating. It also begs the question of how much players should use social media to soak the moment in lest it become a distraction, deterrent or mental…
