Read on Twitter
Yesterday, we released a set of guidelines for our community on social media. These guidelines stand as a set of expectations for those who consider themselves members of the Tech Family.
It’s not unusual for an organization to set guidelines >> https://www.latech.edu/social-media-conduct/">https://www.latech.edu/social-me...
It’s not unusual for an organization to set guidelines >> https://www.latech.edu/social-media-conduct/">https://www.latech.edu/social-me...
like these, and we modeled ours on several universities’ statements. We also consulted with our University’s legal counsel to ensure we aren’t violating First Amendment protections.
I thought it might be insightful for everyone to know why guidelines are necessary. >>
I thought it might be insightful for everyone to know why guidelines are necessary. >>
To do that, I need to take you back to the beginning of my communication career in higher education.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, social media was born. People made fun of it, calling it a place to share photos of your lunch >>
A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, social media was born. People made fun of it, calling it a place to share photos of your lunch >>
and never considering it a legitimate channel for communication.
The higher ed part of my career basically began with social media and the web. Back then, those few people who counted SM as a part of their job >>
The higher ed part of my career basically began with social media and the web. Back then, those few people who counted SM as a part of their job >>
(because there was no job description for a social media manager), had faith in the new channels. The community was smaller and was dedicated to regulating itself.
>>
>>
In fact, that was the response when someone – a leader usually – complained about things that were posted about your organization. The community will take care of it. The good guys will win. People will know when someone is spreading misinformation >>
and they will correct their peers.
Flash forward a decade and a half.
Lots has changed. We have the capacity to create content for our communities that is accessible for everyone, that helps fuel a movement, that shares our messages in places we’d never dreamed of. >>
Flash forward a decade and a half.
Lots has changed. We have the capacity to create content for our communities that is accessible for everyone, that helps fuel a movement, that shares our messages in places we’d never dreamed of. >>
We have wonderful and dedicated communicators who are solely focused on the science and art of social media.
That’s the positive.
Frankly, the community no longer monitors and corrects.
>>
That’s the positive.
Frankly, the community no longer monitors and corrects.
>>
And that’s the reason many communities need behavioral expectations. As a leader, when you watch stress build and community members being bullied, you work to make change. We continue to hope that the community will regulate itself, and we know that we have to lead the way. >>
The members of the Tech Family share a set of beliefs – the Tenets – that help to guide our behavior. For those not familiar with the Tenets, they are Confidence, Excellence, Commitment, Knowledge, Integrity, Respect, Leadership, Loyalty, Enthusiasm, Caring, Hope, and Pride. >>
When we noticed some of the communication behaviors on our SM channels didn’t reflect our Tenets, we decided to do something about it. We decided to implement a set of expectations that would protect the members of our community.
Our culture of caring >>
Our culture of caring >>
– a phrase we’ve used a bit in the past couple of months – depends on *all of us working for the least of us.*
It means we listen, we help, we focus on others instead of ourselves, because it’s not about me. >>
It means we listen, we help, we focus on others instead of ourselves, because it’s not about me. >>
