Being a public figure brings in a lot of risks and benefits. I think one of the biggest risks is that public figures are most prone to criticism. No matter what side of the spectrum their ideas and thoughts fall, there will always be someone who will dislike their choices and content. However, most public figures have many genuine followers who will support them and give them strength to ignore the negative criticisms and carry on as their usual best selves.

In a workplace, it is generally common for employers to monitor their employees use of social media on computers owned by the employer, during the employees on-duty hours. Misuse of this policy can be detrimental to the employees’ position if the use of their personal social media is coming between their work ethics. In terms of a hiring process, it is likely that an employer will do a google search to find out more about you (I have personally done this to find out more about my employer) before offering you a position with their company.

Depending on your field of work, a termination or suspension from a job can be considered justified. For example, if you are working in law enforcement and your employer finds you doing something unlawful through your social media, then a termination would be acceptable. However, if a potential or current employee is being discriminated because of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, or appearance then I personally believe it’s better to find a new employer who respects you for who you are as a person, and focuses on your professional growth and what you can bring to the workplace.

Social media which was once only considered useful for “fun”, has now become a critical part of the way most people communicate and get work done. The range of individuals include those working for corporations, government, educators, and celebrities. As mentioned by Sreenivasan (n.d.), social media allows you to do at least four important things. This includes, discover new ideas and trends, connect with existing and new audience in deeper ways, bring attention and traffic towards your field of work, and build, craft, and enhance your brand. The latter is seen often with celebrities endorsing and promoting certain brands and products (ex. Jennifer Anniston endorsing Aveeno). This kind of relationship benefits both parties by bringing revenue and public attention towards the company and the celebrity.

By having a PLN, you allow yourself you personalize your learning and focus on your interests in greater depth. As said by Sophie Lui, access to social media allows you to create a wider intellectual network and continually learn from individuals you look up to and who have greater experience. Being present on social media also help us stay relevant and up to date in the public eye. Platforms such as LinkedIn also allow up to put forward our most recent professional accomplishments for employers and the public to view.

Benefits of having social media platforms directly associated with an employer is that the public can ensure that the accounts are verified, and the information put forward on those platforms come from a trusted source. Some restrictions that come along with this, is that certain rules and policies have to be followed before posting something on the employer’s social media accounts. This allows the company to ensure that their reputation among the public stays positive and also encourages their employees to share information about the company within their own online networks.

False information can spread like fire on social media. In order to avoid this from happening, it is important to cite your sources on anything you decide to post on your social media accounts. This is especially important if you are a public figure who is monitored for by the media and the public at all times.

Veteran story tellers are usually experienced people who have earned a positive reputation throughout their lives for the work they have done in their field. If we take a look at veteran military officers, we can understand that they have endured and seen a lot of harm done in the battlefields. Since they have personally gone through many experiences, we can be quite confident that their story is portraying real events and correctly explain how they occurred. Additionally, at later stages of a person’s career or life, they have a lot less to lose and thus they don’t engage in spreading false information. During these life stages, they don’t think of the benefits they can gain; instead, they are more concerned with giving back to their communities and create a better world for future generations.

 

References:

Sreenivasan, S. (n.d). How to use social media in your career. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/guides/business/social-media-for-career-and-business

EDCI_338. (2020, October 21). A01 – LUI, Sophie. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T4jOdKd12I&feature=youtu.be