Like it or love it, social networking has changed our lives, in one way or another. There are so many different social media sites, the most commonly accessed being Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, You Tube, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Snapchat, Reddit and Flickr; and they have changed how we communicate with friends, family, and potentially colleagues. But is it a good thing?
It all very much depends on the individual, and which social media site that person is using. Sites such as LinkedIn, and potentially Facebook, could serve as a great launching pad for a new business or venture, or as an educational tool, but equally can be a source of negative pressure for some individuals, and has the potential for cyber bullying.
For me social media makes it much easier to stay in touch with friends around the world, and also friends and colleagues, both past and current. Equally it means that people I have never had contact with are able to access some details of my life, whether good or bad.
It can also serve as a great way of providing information and education, which in the veterinary world is a wonderful way of remaining up to date with the latest treatments and modalities, and allowing veterinary professionals to share knowledge and experience (look out for our new website launching soon, and check us out on Facebook and Twitter (@TheVetNurseJnl)).
There are however, many downsides to social media. As mentioned already, social peer pressure and cyber bullying are major issues, particularly in the teens and young adult age groups, with reports of the overwhelming pressure to ‘fit in’ causing stress, anxiety and even depression.
One big concern for me is privacy issues; with the changes in General Data Protection and Regulation coming into force, organisations have a responsibility to protect our data, but what about our details as employees? What if you have an angry client who is upset about the treatment of their animal? How many of us have websites which feature ‘meet the team’ pages, where clients are able to access the names and images of veterinary staff? How easy would it be for them to locate us as individuals on social media sites, and from there gain access to more of our personal details?
There are also privacy issues in terms of us as veterinary professionals sharing personal data such as images of patients, or even asking a colleague about a particular patient, after they post a status saying how busy their day has been? It is all so easily done, without meaning to contravene data protection regulations. One major issue is that social media posts cannot ever be entirely deleted, which has led to individuals receiving workplace disciplinaries, or even dismissal.
For me one major downside to the rise of social media is online interaction becoming a substitute for offline interaction. We no long have to verbally communicate with friends or colleagues about what they did over the weekend, because it's all there to see online, and it could be said that social media promotes antisocial human behaviour. It also serves as a major distraction; even when out socially, how often do we check our social apps, messages and emails?
There are many other pros and cons to the use of social media, and mobile apps, and it's impossible to deny they are making access to knowledge and information easier than ever, but we do need to consider the downsides and the negative impact it can have on our lives.