# Varsity Influencer Teams UNC Turns Student-Athletes Into Social Media Monetization Experts By Grace Mahas | Published 2025-04-30 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/varsity-influencer-teams References: [nytimes](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/business/unc-student-athlete-influencers.html?u)  The [University of North Carolina](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collegiate-footwear-collection) has launched a groundbreaking initiative transforming its 850 student-athletes into social media influencers. Through a partnership with Article 41, an influencer marketing firm founded by alumna Vickie Segar, the program provides comprehensive training on content creation and audience building across platforms like [TikTok](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiktoks-campus-verification) and [Instagram](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monetization-apps). This innovative approach democratizes earning potential beyond star players, focusing on achievable follower counts rather than viral fame. "We don't need people to get eight million followers — we need them to get to 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 followers — that is where we start seeing revenue," Segar explains. The firm handles brand partnerships while taking a 20% commission, creating a sustainable model that several other universities are now adopting. This trend reflects the growing recognition of the creator economy as a legitimate career path and revenue stream within collegiate athletics. Image Credit: The New York Times ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.1/10 - Popularity: 82% | Activity: 91% | Freshness: 39% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Student-athlete Monetization:** Empowering student-athletes to leverage their personal brands highlights a shift towards independent revenue generation in collegiate sports. - **Influencer Education Programs:** Universities are increasingly incorporating social media and influencer marketing strategies into their curricula, merging traditional education with modern digital skills. - **Athlete-influencer Partnerships:** Colleges are fostering collaborations between athletes and brands, leading to new avenues for monetization that capitalize on athletes’ online presence. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Creator Economy:** The intersection of sports and social media has bolstered the creator economy, offering athletes newfound opportunities to monetize their influence. - **Sports Marketing:** By turning athletes into influencers, sports marketing sees a convergence with digital marketing strategies, potentially redefining sponsorship and brand engagement models. - **Edtech:** Educational technology is being revolutionized as institutions incorporate digital marketing and content creation into athletic programs, equipping students with contemporary skills. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Gen Z-Focused Hotel Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hyatt.md) - [Collegiate Athlete-Supporting Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collegiate-basketball-players.md) - [Athlete-Led Marketing Strategies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/athleteled-marketing.md) - [Sports Program Monetization Strategies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/washington-state-university.md) - [College-Focused Social Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiktoks-campus-verification.md) - [Athletic Career-Boosting Collegiate Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collegiate-program.md) - [Student Athlete-Empowering Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/liberty-tax.md) - [Dynamic Basketball-Informed Marketing Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ncaa-athletes.md) - [Dynamic Pro-Ballplayer Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/savannah-bananas.md)