Social media

Social media is a type of online media used to facilitate social interaction in online spaces or sites. Social media tools are two-way media that allow users to create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.

There is a wide variety of social media, ranging from social sharing sites such as YouTube and Flickr through social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook. Educators also now use blogs, wikis, and podcasting to encourage student collaboration and participation providing a new formation of knowledge sharing.

Social Media Tool	Concepts/Learning & Teaching Use	Tips/Best Practice
Twitter Interactive Instant Short Informative	A micro-blogging site allowing messages of up to 140 characters to be sent to your ‘followers’ Use hashtags # to search topics Follow experts in your field	Good idea to say hello & goodbye watch your language Keep automation to a minimum Promote other more than yourself Keep caps lock off Review before you re-tweet If you have an issue with an individual/company, rather than attack, reach out for resolution
Facebook Network community Not always instant More content provision More ‘sharing’ More opinions	Join expert groups Most used social networking service – as of May, 2013 there were 1.11 billion users	Send your friend request only once be respectful if not accepted Choose photos that represent you well Use status updates to invite conversation Tag photos judiciously Keep private subject matter off the public wall Privacy is KING watch your settings, and remind your network/friends to do the same (duty of care) Become a listener. Facebook gives institutions the opportunity to solidify reputation as users judge the institution not only on what ‘friends’ are saying, but how the institution reacts.
Blogs/Forums	Online journals that allow comments from readers e.g. WordPress Can be professional or personal	Be a part of the community Leave thoughtful comments Welcome differing opinions Help promote tolerance Don’t have music/videos that start automatically
LinkedIn	Join expert group in your discipline	Connect only with people you know Use email for connecting and communication not just promotion Include how you are connected when sending invites We all have busy outside lives – stick to business hours
RSS feeds	A format for delivering regularly changing web content
YouTube	Video-sharing site Can form networks Can form own YouTube channels with free hosting!	Super-public and highly contagious in networking power – be sure you want your video to be seen, commented on, and shared across the globe.
Geolocation tools	Location-based social networking site e.g. Foursquare

Reproduced with permission from Griffith University November 4, 2013

Say please and thank you.

If you want to share content ask politely.

If someone has shared yours be sure to thank them whenever possible.

Introduce yourself and introduce others.

Anytime you friend, follow or engage with people who may not know you, it is always a good idea to introduce yourself.

Express ideas and opinions in a respectful manner: don’t denigrate or insult others.