All Entries in the "Social media" Category
Reminder: Eight tips for social media etiquette
Does the social medial world sometimes make your head spin? Here are some simple tips to help you.
Do you mix your personal and professional lives on your Facebook page? I separate my personal and professional relationships on Facebook. My personal life is just that, and I don’t need or wish to share some things with my professional associates. There’s nothing randy, more like exchanges with my 20-something nephews, girly gossip about fashion and martinis, or grumblings about local politics. I don’t play Farmville (and have no patience for such postings), don’t care about daily horoscopes, or 99% of posted YouTube videos.
These posts don’t belong on professional pages. Facebook gives us a fabulous opportunity to network on the topics that bind us as colleagues. We can share ideas, techniques, and processes. We can ask one another for advice and guidance. We can commiserate with our cyber friends about our jobs and careers, encourage those who undertaking new challenges, and cheer for those who achieve their goals.
Most Facebook pages are open to the public, which means your comments, posts, and pictures are searchable. You need to be very careful about what you say and post on Facebook—or on any social media platform, whether on a personal or professional page.
I found a Facebook etiquette list published by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses and got their permission to adapt it here as recommendations for our association’s interactivity on our social networking sites including Facebook, LinkedIn, CDI Talk, and soon (believe it or not) Twitter.
Consider these tips for smart social media conduct:
- Be respectful of people’s comments. If you don’t agree with a comment, state your point without being rude, confrontational, disrespectful, angry, or vulgar. Better still, don’t reply at all.
- When you post a comment, ask a question, or respond to others, give your opinion about important topics in a professional manner.
- Remember HIPAA – don’t post patient information in ANY form. Don’t post particulars about a patient or a situation that might be identified. Don’t post photos of patients.
- Share articles from reputable sources that you believe will educate your peers on different topics. Take a page from Glenn Krauss and Lynne Spryszak who frequently share links to government auditors’ transmittals on the ACDIS Facebook page.
- Be careful how you express an opinion about your current facility, work, or a co-worker. Remember that your managers and co-workers are also interested in these CDI professional networking opportunities and may be members themselves. Don’t forget that your employer and/or future employer could view what you have posted. Don’t divulge confidential and/or proprietary information and don’t spread gossip. If you would not want them misconstruing your conversation if they overheard it in the hallway, don’t put it on the Internet either.
- If you choose to post pictures, select those that are in good taste. If a photo of a friend is unflattering (and you’d be horrified to see that image of yourself posted for all to see) don’t post it.
- Don’t spam. Some people like to eat it (believe it or not) with fried eggs, but reposting advertising or promotional materials to social networking sites isn’t good etiquette.
- Ask questions of your peers and participate in Wall or Discussion Boards regarding a specific topic. Share your expertise when you can, and thank those from whom you take suggestions.
Note: This list was adapted and reprinted with permission from the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, www.awhonn.org. For
