Identify the risks and benefits of engaging with a public audience in a media space – what are the risks for a public figure or person in a position of trust (educator, lawyer, government official)?

Initially, my response was that public figures/people in positions of influence need to be extremely careful of what they present online, as personal thoughts and statements are often assumed to be those of their workplace unless explicitly mentioned otherwise. After reflecting on my opinion though, I realized that is under ideal circumstances: when looking at situations such as United States President Donald Trump’s twitter, a completely different story is revealed, and I think that sadly, the new norm surrounding this revolves around the political standing of a company.

Here is a link from Workopolis.com highlighting how Canadians have been fired for social media posts ranging from complaining about their employer to homophobic and misogynistic remarks. Personally, if faced with critique of my personal values on social media, I would not change anything, as I am very careful with what kind of personal beliefs I share online, only sharing those that I am aware will not cause backlash from my employer based on company values. Although freedom of speech needs to be recognized, there is a definitive line to be drawn between human rights and freedom of speech.

 

How do notable individuals use social media?

This question depends highly on who is being referred to as a notable individual. Donald Trump, for example, is an obvious notable individual that does not exactly use social media (Twitter) responsibly, but in contrast, look at almost any other significant (famous) figures: extreme care and consult is taken in order not to offend, harm, or otherwise upset anyone that views content.

 

What are the benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN?

The primary benefits of being in the public eye and having your PLN be in the public eye are that exponentially more people (almost always from different backgrounds) will be in touch with you. This can often lead to increased social awareness, but also more learning opportunities surrounding sensitivities, both personal and cultural. Also, being in the public eye affords you access to more people, therefore simply broadening your horizons and connecting to so many different people. Looking at it from another view, according to Sophie Liu, if she doesn’t stay up to date on her PLN and social media, the fear of becoming irrelevant consumes her. In contrast, she loves that she can constantly educate herself on new topics that would have never crossed her mind if not for social media.

 

Building community with online tools provided by the employer can be limiting, what are the perceived restrictions and benefits of having social media directly associated with employment?

The main restriction with social media-work connections is that on occasion, one may be asked to post something that aligns with company values, but not necessarily personal values. Additionally, the social media account ownership rights may belong to the company, meaning that all relationships made on a given account would theoretically stay on that account exclusively. In contrast, the benefits are that associated companies or consultants are significantly more likely to share their work with an official company account, allowing for a possibility of sharing classified information. Also, it is much easier to create PLN’s within a company if everyone is connected through company accounts, and to create and maintain relationships. Also, if input is needed from colleagues, it would be much easier to share files and get feedback through company means of communication.

 

Delivering information in a connected society requires verifiable resources, how does one build a PLN that can be consistently relied on?  

To build a PLN that is reliable and consistent, one must stay true to their area of expertise and not speculate, as speculation often leads to rumors and is based upon areas where one is not an expert. In Martin Hirst’s book Navigating Social Journalism: A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen, the importance of justifying and proving arguments and information was highlighted multiple times. This creates not only responsibility, but also accountability and professionalism. If these tips are followed, a following will be created over time.

 

How do those who are veteran storytellers minimize risk in sharing misinformation?

Veteran storytellers are often veteran for one of a few reasons: either they tell firsthand accounts of events, they have built a reputation for being truthful based on previous checks, or they are experts in the field (as previously mentioned). Regardless, there is certainly a reason one becomes a ‘veteran’ storyteller, and it doesn’t happen overnight.

 

References:

Hirst, M. (2018). Navigating Social Journalism: A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen. Chapter 4. Retrieved from: https://www-taylorfrancis-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/books/9781315401263

Miller J. (2020). EDCI 338 A01 – LUI, Sophie. YouTube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T4jOdKd12I&feature=youtu.be

Workopolis (2015) 14 Canadians who were fired for social media posts. Retrieved from https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/14-canadians-who-were-fired-for-social-media-posts/