Dangerous tweets: using social media responsibly
Nearly a third of employers have had to take disciplinary action against an employee for misuse of social media.
It seems that barely a month goes by without at least one individual or business hitting the headlines due to misguided use of social media. As the popularity of sites such as Facebook and Twitter continues to soar, social media has become an ingrained part of our everyday lives. Indeed, Facebook alone now has around 1.28 billion users worldwide.
Social media, a web-based platform that allows individuals to interact and share knowledge, opinions and information, includes sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube, LinkedIn, blogging sites including Tumblr and Wordpress, and also internet forums.
Employees, members of the public and celebrities alike have landed themselves in hot water by thoughtlessly revealing sensitive information or airing grievances online, thinking their employer would never see it.
A report by global law firm Proskauer states: “A frequent feature of tweets and postings is that they have the character and informality of a verbal remark, but as with any writing or recording, they are essentially permanent and can be forwarded verbatim by any recipient, often to multiple parties; this mismatch can be dangerous.”
A survey by the firm this year revealed 43 per cent of employers have had to deal with the misuse of social media, and nearly a third (31 per cent) have had to take disciplinary action against an employee.
Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses also have a duty to behave responsibly and professionally both offline and online, and not to bring the profession into disrepute. Inappropriate use of social media can have serious consequences and can be taken into consideration in discussions about fitness to practice during disciplinary hearings. Likewise, students who misuse social media face losing their place at university as well as their eligibility to be placed on the register.
It is a good idea to review your privacy settings carefully on a regular basis. However, always assume that whatever you post online is permanent and can be seen by anyone. Posts can easily be shared and copied by others, making them difficult to control or delete. Even comments posted anonymously on forums, for example, can often be traced back to the source.
Dos and don'ts of social media:
- Protect client confidentiality. Do not post information that could identify a client or their animal.
- Always follow the internet and/or social media policy set out by your university or employer.
- Do not post information that is offensive, inaccurate or unjustifiable. If a comment causes damage to the reputation of an individual or business they may make a civil claim for defamation.
- Respect the privacy of individuals and organisations – do not reveal sensitive information.
- Remove content that is unprofessional or offensive.
- Do not post comments that may be seen to bully, victimise, harass, abuse or threaten.
- Do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, age, religion, beliefs or sexual orientation.
Please note this list is not exhaustive
For further information, see 'Social media and medical professionalism'. (Cunningham, A. (2014)), Medical Education, 48: 110–112. doi: 10.1111/medu.12404
Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
