Social Media Etiquette Tips for BAC Members
With 73% of the world’s Internet users active in social media and 92% of recruiters using social media to find candidates, it is essential that you carefully consider your actions and follow proper etiquette when you post and engage with other users. It is critical to think about the effects that your words, pictures, and videos have before sharing them with the public. You have worked hard to develop a reputation as a professional Union Craftworker. Don’t jeopardize that reputation with careless postings.
Be professional. If you think what you do on social media has to do only with your personal life, there are facts you should consider: 60% of employers use social sites to research job candidates; 41% use social networking sites to research current employees; 26% have found content online that caused them to discipline an employee. Inappropriate photographs, videos, discriminatory comments, and use of vulgar, offensive or rude language, are typical types of content that can have a negative impact on your professional image.
Be upfront about opinions that are personal. Social media is a great vehicle to promote the things that you are proud of or interested in. Many BAC members prominently display their BAC affiliation in their profiles, which is great. However, when people see that you are a BAC member they often assume that your postings represent the position of the Union or your employer. And while you know that isn’t the case, the general public doesn’t. So if your profile highlights your affiliation with BAC be upfront about the fact that you are not speaking on the Union’s behalf. For example, you should consider a disclaimer on your social media profile, saying “The views posted here are my own.”
Be truthful – make corrections if necessary. Social media is not a replacement for news. Before posting information on social media or sharing someone else’s post, consider the validity of the information and the impact it may have. If there appears to be more harm than good that could come from posting something, don’t post it. If you don’t know where the information came from, don’t post it. If you posted or shared inaccurate information, acknowledge the mistake and state the correction.
Share information carefully. Think twice before sharing your location data, travel plans, personally identifying information, personal finance information, self-incriminating evidence, or anything you don’t want to make public.
Follow social media policies. When you post or comment on any organization or company’s social media page, make sure that you follow their social media policy. For example, the BAC Facebook page has a “Dos and Don’ts” guideline for its followers when posting or engaging with others on its page: https://bit.ly/32I9s3e.