The most important thing to remember about using social media is that is incredibly difficult to delete information from the Internet.  Industry best practices encourage platform owners to maintain data backups as part of their disaster recovery plan.  In addition, electronic accounts can be hacked, and sensitive information released into the wild.  In the context of social media, it is important to remember that every document and media file posted or shared reflects back on the users, their employers, and their families, exposing them to public scorn and even legal action.

With that being said, Nussbaum and Hall give us some detailed advice on managing our online reputation.  The first step is to build one’s own professional website or blog, which we will be doing in this class.  Next, they recommend multiple online profiles to help distance yourself from others with the same name.  They also encourage educators to participate in online discussions and consider authoring professional online articles.  Finally, they remind us to always be professional and to use tracking services to monitor our name online. (Nussbaum-Beach & Hall, 2012)

References

Nussbaum-Beach, S., & Hall, L. (2012). The connected educator: Learning and leading in a digital age (2nd ed). Solution Tree.

Professional learning strategies and practices have changed significantly in the last two decades largely due to the continued expansion of high-speed Internet access.  Other advances in technology, such as the pervasiveness of affordable mobile devices, have drastically increased access availability for both students and educators.

As a native of rural Virginia, my own access has been somewhat limited for years.  Ten years ago, smartphones were still too expensive, and cell-service too weak for heavy Internet usage.  Satellite Internet was the only real access choice since we didn’t have a cable connection, and the most affordable data plans imposed a data cap to manage network traffic.  In addition, inclement weather could interfere with the signal.  When I first started at UOPX in 2016, I often experienced either slowed connections or lost access completely due to the nature of the uplink.   Last spring, we received word that a local electric company was investing in a fiber-optic network infrastructure in our area.  We signed up for a connection, and by fall we were connected to true high-speed for the first time.  A stable, reliable connection with no data limit has made the educational process much easier for me.

In a country that prides itself on freedom of speech, any effort to regulate social media content can easily be misconstrued as censorship.  Unfortunately, this issue affects all organizations, including Higher Ed institutions.  However, organizations can and should research and implement social media policies to protect themselves, as well as their students and staff.  Following Harris’ recommendations, I would assign a records and information management (RIM) team to help me draft a fair and comprehensive policy.  “Working with leadership, as well as with human resources, the policy team should consider the organization’s culture (the ways work is being accomplished) in relation to its regulatory environment and its risk tolerance level to determine how to structure and implement the policy.” (Harris, 2011)

While drafting my social media policy, I would install clear and concise remedial actions for infractions.  With that being said, I would also proceed with caution and judge each case on its individual merits.  Numerous cases in real life have proved that rigidly enforcing blanket policies can backfire in spectacular fashion, especially if the offender is popular.  For example, the Supreme Court recently tried the case of Brandi Levy, a High School cheerleader who posted a vulgar tirade after failing to make the varsity squad.  The school suspended Levy for the post, but SCOTUS ultimately ruled in her favor. (Totenberg, 2021)  

References

Harris, P. (2011, Sep/Oct). Collaborate to Develop an Effective Social Media Policy. Information Management, 45(5).

Totenberg, N. (2021, April 28). ‘Frightened To Death’: Cheerleader Speech Case Gives Supreme Court Pause. Retrieved from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2021/04/28/991683886/frightened-to-death-cheerleader-speech-case-gives-supreme-court-pause