How to Use Social Media as a Professional Development Tool
By Bill Wong, OTD, OTR/L, Interface Rehab
As someone who went from often making blunders on social media to someone who is vigilant about posts and has more than 7,000 OT students and professional social media followers across the globe, I have learned what it takes to use social media as a professional development tool. Here are my top tips:
1. Consider joining and participating in these social media networks:
- #OTalk and #OTalk2US on Twitter: These are OT-related Twitter chats that last an hour, but you can contribute for up to 24 hours after the live chat. There is a weekly chat held on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET and monthly chats on the first Sunday of the month at 7:00 p.m. ET. For those who are new to Twitter, type in the hashtag into Twitter’s search bar (#OTalk or #Otalk2US) during the time when the chat is live. In order for the participants to respond to your tweets, your Twitter account needs to be public rather than private. Read AOTA's tips for first-time Twitter chat participants.
- AOTA on OTConnections, Facebook, and Twitter: OTConnections is AOTA’s online community and social network that is an ideal place to post questions or discussions about occupational therapy and connect with students and practitioners in your practice area of interest (free to join!). Check out the New Practitioners group and the Students forum. Following AOTA’s Twitter and Facebook are also great ways to stay connected to the latest news and opportunities in the profession.
- 4OT groups on Facebook: There are almost 40 4OT groups on Facebook about various areas of OT and occupational science. The “mother” of these groups is OT4OT, short for “online technology for occupational therapy,” which has almost 6,000 members. There are also groups in mental health (MH4OT), hands (Hands4OT), oncology (ONC4OT), and many more. They are great places for OT students to exchange knowledge and ideas with other students and practitioners across the world.
- Pinterest: Over the past few years, Pinterest has become a great tool for OT students and professionals to collect potential treatment ideas or ways to remember relatively unfamiliar concepts. The bigger the social network you have, the more likely you are to find peers who are on Pinterest. In doing so, you might be able to find creative treatment ideas that you might not have been aware of. Read more about how you can use Pinterest to promote occupational therapy.
2. You can never have too big of a support system in OT. The more connected you are, the more likely you are to find someone who can help you, or someone who knows someone who can help you. Increasing your professional visibility on social media may also lead to opportunities as people become aware of your interests and expertise. You never know what’s out there until you reach out.
3. Do as you are able. Some people might be comfortable with managing just one platform, and others prefer using multiple platforms. You don’t have to follow suit if you are not comfortable. But if you want to learn a new social media platform, ask for advice from someone with experience.
That being said, the Internet can also be a place where you can quickly ruin your reputation. A few words of caution:
1. Do not engage in unprofessional behavior. Keep in mind that faculty, supervisors, employers, and colleagues can monitor your account at any time if it is public. This can ruin your chances of getting a job if a future employer views your profile while considering your application and is uncomfortable with what they find. This can also cause trouble at work and at school if your fellow colleagues, supervisors, peers, or professors view content that you did not intend them to see.
2. Keep client information confidential. When creating posts, be conscientious about what you share related to your clients. There is a fine line between sharing information that might be helpful to a peer or a discussion on treatment approaches, and sharing information that might identify a particular client. Client confidentially is mandated by HIPAA, and identifying a client, even inadvertently, can be grounds for legal action.
3. Respect others’ social media boundaries. Some people do not want to mix their professional and personal lives and designate at least one of their social media accounts for private use. This means that they maybe very selective to who they add on these accounts. If they send private messages to you about their social media uses, that is them letting you know as a courtesy professionally.For private accounts on all social networks, do not add that person unless you they have told you otherwise.
- Facebook: Do not ask to friend supervisors, professors, or employers. This can create an uncomfortable dynamic, as many people are not comfortable socializing online with people they oversee. When friending coworkers or fellow students, consider the type of relationship you have with that colleague and whether being Facebook friends is appropriate.
- Twitter & Pinterest: Following public accounts is fine, but don’t expect that everyone will follow you back.
- Instagram: Following public accounts is fine, but know that many people use Instagram for more personal reasons. Don’t request to follow private accounts unless the person told you it was OK to do so.
- LinkedIn: For supervisors, professors, or employers, it might be wise to check before requesting to connect. Also, many LinkedIn users prefer to connect with individuals that they know professionally and have met in person. Don’t be offended if someone you don’t know well or never met denies your connection request.
4. Be aware of rules on different social media platforms. You might receive bans or restrictions on your accounts if you try to connect with others you don’t know personally.
5. Monitor your social media accounts to make sure you have not been hacked. That can happen from time to time on Twitter and Facebook. Be wary of links that are vague and do not have a clear description. Be sure to change your passwords regularly.
Social media can be a great means for OT students and professionals to enhance their professional development. As future clinicians and leaders in OT, we should not be afraid of experimenting and identifying the most effective mediums to help ourselves professionally. However, we must always stay professional about our social media use and respect boundaries set by our peers and workplaces.