Netiquette – playing nice on social media

A short note here following the helpful twitter chat today with #hcsmanz [transcript link]

Background

Wikipedia defines netiquette. However, the clearest summary is contained in the following picture:

Better understanding of the conventions for engaging in social media conversations will, hopefully, get more people to stop lurking and join in. Social media conversations are more than tea time conversations. Social media is not only “social” but can be a powerful tool for professional development.

Resources or not reinventing the wheel

Link at Learn the Net – Your online guide

BBC Webwise making the most of being online.

A useful podcast for social media education is The Social Hour [Friday’s 2100 UMT]

Some examples – why social media matters for health and social care

Link to Youth Health 2.0
for articles on social media and mobile technology in public health, e.g.

• Social media and the medical needs of American Indians
• The art of engaging indigenous youth via social media

For (health and social care) professionals @brookmanknight has the last word:

“with medical people I talk collaborative peer support open access learning. Social as a word is not useful to engage or invite.”

Paediatrician hits sweet spot with social media

KC Kids Doc   Dr Natasha celebrates her experience using social media here.  It is great to learn that her clinical practice has expanded with this, that her knowledge and skills are enhances and she feels less isolated as a doctor and mother.

UK General Practice marches to a different drum – there is no extra income from web presence.  A social media presence can create more work for beleaguered staff with no increase in practice revenue.  Keeping up to date and minimising professional isolation are likely to be common to UK and US doctors.

Nevertheless, her experience is salutory.  Not least to use as an argument to encourage reluctant colleagues to jump on board the social media train.  It is more than just inane comments about the weather and so forth.  Social media can be a force for good.  However, the NHS must evolve into a different organisation to make it worth the time for many UK doctors.