This is my portion of a presentation at the American Psychological Association's convention in Toronto in 2015. In it, I review: the importance of social media for your professional mission, learn how to enhance online education, and creating professional versus personal boundaries on the internet. The talk focuses on the use of Twitter, podcasting, YouTube, and Blogger/WordPress.
1. John D. Gavazzi, PsyD ABPP
@johngavazzi
www.ethicalpsychology.com
psychbuilder.tumblr.com
john.gavazzi@gmail.com
2. Learning Objectives
• Be able to use Twitter and blogging to
support your professional missions.
• To describe the importance of
developing an online presence for
professional education purposes.
• Distinguish between your personal and
professional activities on the Internet and
understand the importance of doing so.
3. The Reality of the 21st Century
• Technology and Social Media have expanded
the ways in which individuals access
professionals and specific forms of
information, including health information.
• Many health professionals are building an
online presence and there are some issues to
contemplate about your online presence.
• It is likely best to align your online presence
with your general professional mission.
4.
5. Quick exercise to see, literally, who is
on social media in general
Which platforms people are comfortable
using on a professional basis
6.
7. Some Questions to Contemplate
• Why am I joining social media?
• What do I hope to accomplish?
• What image or brand am I trying to
develop? (if any)
8. Some Questions to Contemplate
• How do I plan to develop it?
• What resources do I have, including
time, to invest?
• Do I understand the technology?
9.
10. True story on how things can go wrong if
you do not understand the technology
11. At the most basic level, you are trying to
develop a network of online connections
in which you can give and take
information, and possibly rebroadcast it
to others.
12. 1. Do what you do
best
2. You do not need
to respond
3. Birds of a feather
Don’t try to tell jokes on
SM unless you are a
comedian
Expect a nasty or
unfavorable comment
every now and then
More likely to follow and
connect with others like
you
Basic Heuristics for Social Media
13. One-Way, Static Forms of Information
• Available 24/7
• Practice Information
– Appointments, practice information,
informed consent, HIPAA policy, etc.
• Expert Information
– Blog, FB, G+, posts, podcasts, Tweets,
YouTube videos, curating information
14. Two-Way Communication
• Social Media provides ways to
communicate back to individuals
– Facebook: Messenger System
– Twitter: Direct Message
– Tumblr: Messaging System
– LinkedIn: Messaging System
15. Ethics of Two-Way Communication
• Informed Consent
• When does a person in cyberspace
become a patient?
• HIPAA compliant communication?
16. Between Session Contacts via SM
• Informed Consent
• HIPAA compliant communication
• Googling or using social media to
learn more about your patients
17. Good General Heuristic
Keep your personal life separate from
your social life on social media
Avoid boundary crossings
Avoid boundary violations
18. Boundaries in Cyberspace
• Would you drive past your patient’s
house for any reason?
• Would you go to a patient’s party?
• Would you look into your patient’s
windows?
20. Possible Reasons for Joining Social
Media
• Altruism
• Ego Needs
• Educating Others
• Developing an Expertise
• Growing a Practice
• Make Money
21. Blogging as a form of professional
activity
• Educate the public
• Educate the profession
• Inspire others
• Develop professional expertise
• Become a better writer
• Generate Referrals
22. What is a blog?
What is blogging?
• A blog (weblog) is a type of website in
which the blogger posts information in
a reverse, chronological order.
• Blogging is posting original content or
curating information on any topic or
field
28. Podcasting Basics
• Podcasts are digital media files
(usually audio), which are produced in
a series, and typically have a certain
theme.
• Ethics and Psychology Podcast
• People typically subscribe to the
series
30. Podcasting Basics
• Very simple way to disseminate
information.
• Low cost way to produce a “show” or
content
• Can be accessed around the world
31. Podcasting Basics
• You create an audio file
• You publish your audio file to your
host site, like LibSyn
• Direct to iTunes and/or publish on
your web site
33. Podcasting as “narrowcasting”
• Disseminating information to a small
audience or niche market
• Partnered with PPA to sell as
continuing education credits
• More to promote ethics education
34. Some Benefits of Podcasting
• One way to publish important content
for continuing education
– PA Mandated Child Abuse Training
– PA Supervision Requirement
• One way to publish redundant content
– PA Mandated Child Abuse Training
– Ethical Decision-making
35. Imagination is the Limit for Podcasting
• Make 5 minute podcasts taking about
anxiety, depression or your specialty
to help market your practice
• Can use for updates for your state
psychological association
• Use to recruit members
37. YouTube
• Using YouTube to supplement
podcasting
• Using YouTube to promote ethics
education primarily
• Using YouTube for committee work
• Used YouTube to promote
membership in your state psych assn
40. Building Your Professional Library
• Many researchers and authors put
their draft and published work on their
pages
• You can follow researchers and
researcher compilers
• Can download publications from
author’s web sites or request e-copies
41. Building Your Professional Library
• Some people are good seeders or
sharers
• Can always follow someone, then
unfollow if not impressed
• No cost to join, no cost to follow
43. Final Thoughts on this Section
• Look to how social media can help
you grow professionally
• Look to how social media can help
grow your practice
44. Social Media Struggles with Ethics
• Freedom of Expression
– Free Speech is different and involves
government censorship
• Pornography
– The Great Porn Purge with Twitter
– Blogger enforcing their porn rules
• Bullying
• Branding