{"id":682,"date":"2021-03-30T18:43:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-30T18:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-englishcomp2\/?post_type=chapter&p=682"},"modified":"2022-07-25T19:31:46","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T19:31:46","slug":"social-media","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-englishcomp2\/chapter\/social-media\/","title":{"raw":"Social Media","rendered":"Social Media"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\nIdentify strategies and pitfalls of communicating through social media\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nWhile it used to be that social media was the distraction from homework, now, your professors are finding ways to incorporate social media into your classes. Professors may require students to make Facebook posts or Tweet about certain topics related to a course, and, some courses even have their own Facebook pages.\r\n\r\nWhile most of us have some experience with social media, our use of social media for personal purposes may be very different from the uses of social media in an academic or professional setting. Consider the purpose of your assignment and the specifics of your audience when using social media for schoolwork. Below are a few best practices for using Twitter.\r\n\r\nTwitter is a social networking tool that allows individuals to send short text messages known as tweets. Tweets originally began by maxing out at 140 characters; now tweets up to 280 characters are permitted.\r\n\r\n\"Infographic\r\n

Writing Tweets: The Basics<\/h2>\r\nKeep your tweets:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Short<\/strong>\r\n280 characters maximum.\u00a0Twitter counts down from 280, and lets you know how many characters you have left to use once you start getting close.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • And Even Shorter<\/strong>\r\nIf you want others to forward your tweet (re-tweet), you may want to use fewer than 280 characters.\u00a0Remember that Twitter provides a stream of short updates for those people, organizations, or issues you want to follow, and gaining a following (via re-tweets) is often a goal of those who use Twitter.\u00a0On average, try to reserve at least 20 characters so your message can be re-tweeted.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Meaningful<\/strong>\r\nPare down the information to keywords, and put what you consider to be the most important information first.\u00a0Phrases will suffice. While there is no need to use complete sentences or formal writing practices, try to write with care. Sloppy, error-filled tweets don\u2019t give your Tweets credibility.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nHere are some additional tips to keep in mind as you give tweeting a try:\r\n
      \r\n \t
    • Use the hashtag symbol (#)\u00a0without<\/em>\u00a0a space<\/em>\u00a0before the word or words you want to emphasize and make more searchable<\/strong>. If you\u2019re emphasizing more than one word, also put those words together\u00a0without<\/em>\u00a0spaces. For example, if you want to emphasize a statement that you\u2019re making about grade schools banning soda, you might do it in this way:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1368\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"660\"]\"Tweet Figure 1<\/strong>. This tweet shows how the hashtag is used to give context, and also makes it possible to search for other comments related to schools banning soda.[\/caption]<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Incorporate links in your tweets as a way to offer more information than that allowed by the 280-character limit. You might link to your website, blog, or any other meaningful or appropriate site.\r\nRemember that the image you insert into your profile appears by each of your tweets. If you have an interesting image, readers\u2019 eyes will gravitate toward your tweet.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • You can comment on others\u2019 tweets. To respond to (or tag) another person\u2019s tweet, use the @ sign and the person\u2019s name without any spaces. Replies using the @ sign are public on Twitter. For example, if you wanted to respond publicly to John Smith\u2019s tweet, you might start your tweet in this way: @JohnSmith. You can place an @ reply anywhere in the tweet\u2014it doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be at the start. The response you send to John Smith using the @ sign will appear on your Profile page and on John Smith\u2019s @Mentions space.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Facebook<\/h2>\r\nWith over one billion users worldwide, there is a good chance you have heard of Facebook. You may have heard people say, \u201cEven my grandma is on Facebook.\u201d Facebook is a popular social media site, and while it\u2019s used informally to share personal information, it can also be used academically and professionally.\r\n\r\nPart of the benefit of using Facebook in the classroom is that it provides students with an opportunity to connect online outside of class or outside of a formal course management system. The basics of using Facebook involve creating an account, developing your Facebook page, and then connecting with friends, family, co-workers, and classmates.\r\n\r\nBecause Facebook can be used both personally and professionally, people sometimes have a difficult time making decisions about what kinds of things are appropriate to post to Facebook. In general, there are no guidelines for writing posts on Facebook. There are no limits on the amount of text, though you would want to avoid very long posts, as people aren\u2019t likely to read longer, essay length posts on a site like Facebook. You can post text, images, and videos about topics related to your personal or professional interests.\u00a0You can also use Facebook to stay up to date and follow professional organizations.\r\n\r\nHowever, if you\u2019re using Facebook professionally, you\u2019ll want to be careful of the personal content you post to your page. There are stories in Facebook lore of people skipping work, posting it to Facebook, and then having their bosses find out about it. As always, when you write, remember your audience!\r\n

      LinkedIn<\/h2>\r\nAlthough Facebook can be used to make professional connections, the social site devoted to professional connections is one called LinkedIn.\r\n\r\nLinkedIn is much like Twitter and Facebook in that you will create an account, create your page, and then make connections. However, the focus is professional. You\u2019ll be prompted to post your work experience and previous places of employment. Then, you can use the site to connect with colleagues and professional acquaintances.\r\n\r\nCreating the information for your LinkedIn site is very much like creating a virtual resume. You\u2019ll want to be careful in how you present yourself, and you\u2019ll want to consider ways in which to present your skills and experiences in the best light.\r\n\r\nLinkedIn also allows you to connect with groups and find jobs. Here, you\u2019ll see an image of a sample \u201cgroups\u201d page. Groups in this page are all professional, and some post jobs. When you\u2019re a member of a group, you\u2019ll see job postings as well as other information that comes from that group.\r\n\r\nThe site also allows you to search for jobs. This image of the menu bar in LinkedIn gives you an idea of all the options available to you.\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s a good idea to begin to network within your field as soon as you gain educational and professional experiences. Creating a LinkedIn page can help you make those network connections.\r\n

      Your Digital Footprint<\/h2>\r\nYour digital footprint is the path you leave on the web. When people, including potential employers, search your name on the web, what will they find? It\u2019s a good idea to have a digital footprint, to put your resume and a collection of your work on the web. There are many opportunities for you to share your writing on the web. Today, we have forums for sharing essays, videos, work history, and pictures of our children. This provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share our creativity with the world. However, it\u2019s important to be mindful of your goals when you share on the web and to remember that information you put on the web is there for anyone to see and will remain there even after you may forget what you posted.\r\n

      Digital Safety and Security<\/h2>\r\nYou want to be careful about the kind of information you share. Remember, potential employers can search for you on Facebook, and if you post your phone number on the web for anyone to see, you might receive unwanted phone calls. Be careful about revealing personal information that might compromise your digital security.\r\n\r\nAs you create things like Facebook and Twitter accounts and web pages for your writing, think about what you want your digital footprint to be like. What will potential employers find when they search for more information about you? Do you want to make your information more secure? Social media accounts give you privacy options, and websites give you security options related to who can see your site.\r\n
      \r\n

      Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/5227d407-ab3f-4b71-9c44-598aceda5d05\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n ","rendered":"
      \n

      Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n

      Identify strategies and pitfalls of communicating through social media<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      While it used to be that social media was the distraction from homework, now, your professors are finding ways to incorporate social media into your classes. Professors may require students to make Facebook posts or Tweet about certain topics related to a course, and, some courses even have their own Facebook pages.<\/p>\n

      While most of us have some experience with social media, our use of social media for personal purposes may be very different from the uses of social media in an academic or professional setting. Consider the purpose of your assignment and the specifics of your audience when using social media for schoolwork. Below are a few best practices for using Twitter.<\/p>\n

      Twitter is a social networking tool that allows individuals to send short text messages known as tweets. Tweets originally began by maxing out at 140 characters; now tweets up to 280 characters are permitted.<\/p>\n

      \"Infographic<\/p>\n

      Writing Tweets: The Basics<\/h2>\n

      Keep your tweets:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Short<\/strong>
        \n280 characters maximum.\u00a0Twitter counts down from 280, and lets you know how many characters you have left to use once you start getting close.<\/li>\n
      • And Even Shorter<\/strong>
        \nIf you want others to forward your tweet (re-tweet), you may want to use fewer than 280 characters.\u00a0Remember that Twitter provides a stream of short updates for those people, organizations, or issues you want to follow, and gaining a following (via re-tweets) is often a goal of those who use Twitter.\u00a0On average, try to reserve at least 20 characters so your message can be re-tweeted.<\/li>\n
      • Meaningful<\/strong>
        \nPare down the information to keywords, and put what you consider to be the most important information first.\u00a0Phrases will suffice. While there is no need to use complete sentences or formal writing practices, try to write with care. Sloppy, error-filled tweets don\u2019t give your Tweets credibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

        Here are some additional tips to keep in mind as you give tweeting a try:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Use the hashtag symbol (#)\u00a0without<\/em>\u00a0a space<\/em>\u00a0before the word or words you want to emphasize and make more searchable<\/strong>. If you\u2019re emphasizing more than one word, also put those words together\u00a0without<\/em>\u00a0spaces. For example, if you want to emphasize a statement that you\u2019re making about grade schools banning soda, you might do it in this way:\n
          \"Tweet<\/p>\n

          Figure 1<\/strong>. This tweet shows how the hashtag is used to give context, and also makes it possible to search for other comments related to schools banning soda.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

        • Incorporate links in your tweets as a way to offer more information than that allowed by the 280-character limit. You might link to your website, blog, or any other meaningful or appropriate site.
          \nRemember that the image you insert into your profile appears by each of your tweets. If you have an interesting image, readers\u2019 eyes will gravitate toward your tweet.<\/li>\n
        • You can comment on others\u2019 tweets. To respond to (or tag) another person\u2019s tweet, use the @ sign and the person\u2019s name without any spaces. Replies using the @ sign are public on Twitter. For example, if you wanted to respond publicly to John Smith\u2019s tweet, you might start your tweet in this way: @JohnSmith. You can place an @ reply anywhere in the tweet\u2014it doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be at the start. The response you send to John Smith using the @ sign will appear on your Profile page and on John Smith\u2019s @Mentions space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Facebook<\/h2>\n

          With over one billion users worldwide, there is a good chance you have heard of Facebook. You may have heard people say, \u201cEven my grandma is on Facebook.\u201d Facebook is a popular social media site, and while it\u2019s used informally to share personal information, it can also be used academically and professionally.<\/p>\n

          Part of the benefit of using Facebook in the classroom is that it provides students with an opportunity to connect online outside of class or outside of a formal course management system. The basics of using Facebook involve creating an account, developing your Facebook page, and then connecting with friends, family, co-workers, and classmates.<\/p>\n

          Because Facebook can be used both personally and professionally, people sometimes have a difficult time making decisions about what kinds of things are appropriate to post to Facebook. In general, there are no guidelines for writing posts on Facebook. There are no limits on the amount of text, though you would want to avoid very long posts, as people aren\u2019t likely to read longer, essay length posts on a site like Facebook. You can post text, images, and videos about topics related to your personal or professional interests.\u00a0You can also use Facebook to stay up to date and follow professional organizations.<\/p>\n

          However, if you\u2019re using Facebook professionally, you\u2019ll want to be careful of the personal content you post to your page. There are stories in Facebook lore of people skipping work, posting it to Facebook, and then having their bosses find out about it. As always, when you write, remember your audience!<\/p>\n

          LinkedIn<\/h2>\n

          Although Facebook can be used to make professional connections, the social site devoted to professional connections is one called LinkedIn.<\/p>\n

          LinkedIn is much like Twitter and Facebook in that you will create an account, create your page, and then make connections. However, the focus is professional. You\u2019ll be prompted to post your work experience and previous places of employment. Then, you can use the site to connect with colleagues and professional acquaintances.<\/p>\n

          Creating the information for your LinkedIn site is very much like creating a virtual resume. You\u2019ll want to be careful in how you present yourself, and you\u2019ll want to consider ways in which to present your skills and experiences in the best light.<\/p>\n

          LinkedIn also allows you to connect with groups and find jobs. Here, you\u2019ll see an image of a sample \u201cgroups\u201d page. Groups in this page are all professional, and some post jobs. When you\u2019re a member of a group, you\u2019ll see job postings as well as other information that comes from that group.<\/p>\n

          The site also allows you to search for jobs. This image of the menu bar in LinkedIn gives you an idea of all the options available to you.<\/p>\n

          It\u2019s a good idea to begin to network within your field as soon as you gain educational and professional experiences. Creating a LinkedIn page can help you make those network connections.<\/p>\n

          Your Digital Footprint<\/h2>\n

          Your digital footprint is the path you leave on the web. When people, including potential employers, search your name on the web, what will they find? It\u2019s a good idea to have a digital footprint, to put your resume and a collection of your work on the web. There are many opportunities for you to share your writing on the web. Today, we have forums for sharing essays, videos, work history, and pictures of our children. This provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share our creativity with the world. However, it\u2019s important to be mindful of your goals when you share on the web and to remember that information you put on the web is there for anyone to see and will remain there even after you may forget what you posted.<\/p>\n

          Digital Safety and Security<\/h2>\n

          You want to be careful about the kind of information you share. Remember, potential employers can search for you on Facebook, and if you post your phone number on the web for anyone to see, you might receive unwanted phone calls. Be careful about revealing personal information that might compromise your digital security.<\/p>\n

          As you create things like Facebook and Twitter accounts and web pages for your writing, think about what you want your digital footprint to be like. What will potential employers find when they search for more information about you? Do you want to make your information more secure? Social media accounts give you privacy options, and websites give you security options related to who can see your site.<\/p>\n

          \n

          Try It<\/h3>\n

          \t