Dave Meltzer has an update regarding the new social media policy put in place by WWE for talent as they believed they could not have hashtags and/or photos that would advertise products. This would include Twitter and Instagram.
It was first reported by Wrestling Inc that WWE had announced a new policy regarding social media where any monetizing of those properties by talent would be subject to a warning on the first violation, a fine on a second violation, and a suspension on a third.
WWE has clarified its position about the guidelines. The new policy is not dissimilar to policies they have had for the past several months regarding Twitch and YouTube where talent is banned from making money by working with third parties. WWE already had this policy with Twitch, Cameo and other social media channels but had not specifically included Twitter and Instagram.
Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed this during today’s Wrestling Observer Radio. An example given was taking a photo in front of a car or restaurant wouldn’t be punishable offenses unless talent was making money from promoting the car or restaurant.
Meltzer wrote, “WWE is going on the guise that the contractual ownership of the likeness of its performers.” This would include all social media accounts. It doesn’t matter whether the talent is using their real names or stage names.
