My Social Media Policy

MY SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

1. Connecting:

I am a senior at Georgia Southern University with a major in public relations and a minor in fashion merchandising and apparel design. I mainly want to connect with others for networking purposes. I believe that there are so many people that are much more educated and experienced than I, and I know I can learn so much from these people. Connecting to these people gives me that opportunity.  It also gives me the chance to connect with people that I am similar to and can talk to about what we are experiencing as graduating seniors and young professionals.

2. Follow, add, friend: The more friends you have, the more fun you have

I am somewhat particular about people I befriend on the Internet. I only friend, follow or add those people that are in the public relations or fashion field, those working for companies I would like to inquire information about, fellow students, etc. For sites such as Facebook, I only accept friend requests from people I know in person. On sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter, I follow people that I feel I can learn from or that I can help or be helped by. I do not automatically reciprocate a follow notifcation until I check out that person’s page.

3. Privacy, boundaries and safety: Beware of predators

Like I stated before, I am particalur about those I befriend. It is important that I do not add random people that are not on sites for the same reasons I am. I am careful about what information I put about myself, but the information may differ by social network. On Facebook, I include some of my favorite things, whereas LinkedIn is strictly things I am professionally involved with. I also take advantage of limited profile capabilities depending on the network and the person.

4. Signal to noise: Have a point

I do not have strong opinions about my social media experience as far as what others are doing. I am fine with RSS and multiple status updates as long as they are meaningful. If a person gets out of hand with pointless updates, I am likely to stop following them on Twitter. If the person is consistantly providing me with useful links and information, then I continue to follow that person.

5. Personal data and sharing

If someone asks me questions, I do not mind sharing information about something I feel qualified to talk about. I think part of connecting means that you are sharing a bit of yourself with other. With sharing a bit of personal data, then I would not truly get the networking experience I want. It is fun to talk with people that share similar interests, and interesting to talk with those who I have only one or two things in common with. I am not looking for deep, meaningful connections on any social network I am involved with, but if fun conversations evolve, I am fine with that.

6. My networking needs and uses: Personal v. Professional

I use Facebook strictly for connecting with my friends. If I have friended someone on there, they are someone I have met in person and went to school with, know through friends, or am related to. LinkedIn is a network I use to meet people professionally. People I connect to on there are people I can ask questions and talk to about life after college.