Blog Assignment #2
Social networking sites are a staple of communication in
today’s society. The majority of Americans use it in some form or fashion. As
defined in the slideshows presented on Blackboard, social networking sites can
be defined as a site that must allow user to construct a public or semi-public
profile within a bounded system, articulate a list of other users whom they
share a connection, and view and traverse their list of connections and those
made by others within the system. This means that social networking sites
provide a place to network and communicate with other users. Such a place is beneficial
for the growth of ideas and relationships in the workplace and in personal
life.
Though social networking sites can be used for spreading and
strengthening communication, it does have its limits. The term ‘microblogging’,
which is introduced in the slideshows, refers to social media sites limiting
the character count for written posts. This encourages users to keep their
messages short and simple, which can have negative consequences. It can weaken
the message the communicator is attempting to convey. It also discourages a
wider use of vocabulary and discourages subject matter of a complicated nature.
This weakening of vocabulary in communication on social
networking sites isn’t the only negative. With the widening access to communication
among individuals of specific social networking sites, many things can come
from it. It is true that this wide access to communication can be beneficial in
the workplace because of the opportunities for networking and spreading ideas,
but it also has negative consequences. Graham Scott’s ‘Social Media is Blurring
Professional Boundaries’ discusses how social networking sites have hurt
individuals in the workplace. The medical field has a high standard of
professionality and rigidness, and unfortunately a “high number of nurses have
fallen foul of local policies on the use of social media”, and employers “have
taken disciplinary action against staff” who have gone against these policies
(Scott). Some of the examples of breaking these rules are “[breaching] patient
confidentiality” or “[going] public with their grievances about life at work”
(Scott). Breaching patient confidentiality seems like a no-brainer, but social networking
sites give easy opportunity to do such. And airing grievances about life at
work is something we all do when communicating with friends and family, and to lose
your job over a simple complaint about a boss or coworker is catastrophic. In
any case, professionals of all fields need be wary of what they post on social
networking sites, as it may cost them their job.
Scott, Graham.Nursing Standard (through 2013); London Vol. 27, Iss. 52, (Aug 28-Sep 3, 2013): 1.
The doctor-patient confidentiality risks presented by social media is something that I had not considered as an issue. However, it does make a lot of sense – a seemingly innocuous tweet about an unruly patient might contain sensitive topics that can land the hospital in serious trouble. I can see this particular topic as a new addition to employee briefings upon hiring and deployment in the medical workforce.
ReplyDeleteHello Jacob! I am very intrigued and agree with what you decided to discuss within your blog post #2 for the assignment. Social media has definitley evolved rapidly and technologically and while as you said there are some limitations, there is still a vast amount of freedom that social media allows and I think it is great for our society going forwad!
ReplyDeleteHello Jacob! I found your topic interesting because it is similar to what I chose as well. While you are focusing on Social Networking Sites in general, I focused on Social Media, while also explaining SNS. I agree with you about the negative aspects of using social networking sites in regards to limitations that come with it. Pertaining to how much we are allowed to post can be seen as a limitation, which in some ways I would agree. I always find it extremely difficult to say exactly what I want in so few words. So this I can relate to. However, more specifically, I like that you talk about how it affects people in the work place. You explain this is due to perhaps being on social media in general, but also about what we post can have negative consequences regarding our jobs. Using the example of expressing negative feedback about a boss or work environment is something that I too see all the time. In fact, I personally avoid having work related friends on my sites unless I am close to them. I also like that you mention this though because I put this into negative terms in regards to addiction to social media. I think that people spend too much time on it, as well as how much or what exactly is posted should be limited. Again, work related situations are a great example for this. Not only being on sites while at work, but also what we choose to convey on these sites. Although, it is sad that what we post on our personal accounts can be used against us, even if they are not meant in a malice manner.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and examples!
Hello Jacob! I found your topic interesting because it is similar to what I chose as well. While you are focusing on Social Networking Sites in general, I focused on Social Media, while also explaining SNS. I agree with you about the negative aspects of using social networking sites in regards to limitations that come with it. Pertaining to how much we are allowed to post can be seen as a limitation, which in some ways I would agree. I always find it extremely difficult to say exactly what I want in so few words. So this I can relate to. However, more specifically, I like that you talk about how it affects people in the work place. You explain this is due to perhaps being on social media in general, but also about what we post can have negative consequences regarding our jobs. Using the example of expressing negative feedback about a boss or work environment is something that I too see all the time. In fact, I personally avoid having work related friends on my sites unless I am close to them. I also like that you mention this though because I put this into negative terms in regards to addiction to social media. I think that people spend too much time on it, as well as how much or what exactly is posted should be limited. Again, work related situations are a great example for this. Not only being on sites while at work, but also what we choose to convey on these sites. Although, it is sad that what we post on our personal accounts can be used against us, even if they are not meant in a malice manner.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and examples!
- Rachelle Salinas