Social media isn’t just a mess; it can propagate falsehoods that can damage reputations. Emeka Egbuka, the rookie receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, found himself in this predicament recently after a misleading post erupted from an account many thought represented him.
The account, @EgbukaEmeka, fired off a provocative question: “Is CTE even real?”
However, Egbuka quickly clarified that this account is not his.
“For anyone curious, I haven’t had Twitter since high school,” the former Ohio State standout stated on Instagram, emphasizing that the X account circulating is not me.
The Buccaneers promptly supported him.
“The account below is neither owned nor operated by Emeka Egbuka,” the team announced on X. “It has no affiliation with Emeka or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”
Yet, this situation unravels deeper issues. As reported by Front Office Sports, Tampa Bay’s social media team had tagged this same account over 60 times during Egbuka’s rookie season, including birthday tributes and team updates.
The misleading account has since been suspended.
This incident underscores ongoing complications with the platform formerly known as Twitter. Since its rebranding to X, users now have the option to pay for verification, complicating how one distinguishes authentic accounts from fakes.
For Egbuka, his focus remains on the game. The 2025 first-round pick had a solid rookie season, finishing with 63 receptions, 938 receiving yards, and six touchdowns, placing fifth in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
