This week we explored the balancing act that is required for professionals and notable individuals, while engaging in public discourse online. In her interview with Jesse Miller, Sophie Lui – a news anchor at Global BC – describes her interactions with social media and the benefits and risks that are involved while being in the public-eye. This has me considering other professionals use of their PLN’s and how I can best utilize my own PLN to engage with a wider audience that is providing accurate information, and how to go about navigating public discourse in a safe and advantageous manner.

How do notable individuals use social media?

  • Gain information
  • Reach out to prospective employers and other professionals in their field
  • Cautiously
  • Personal sharing – Lui described that she uses Instagram for sharing photos of family and using Twitter as a more professional sharing platform where she voices her values and intellectual discourse.

What are the benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN?

  • Public support
  • Raise awareness
  • Immediate feedback
  • Resources and connections to like minded professionals
  • Keep you relevant and in the public eye
  • Continuous learning -Lui also described her PLN as an easy and efficient access to a wider-intellectual world

Identify the risks and benefits of engaging with a public audience in a media space – what are the risks for a public figure or person in a position of trust (educator, lawyer, government official)?

  • Vitriol and criticisms – easier to make negative comments with a quick click of a button vs. writing letters etc.
  • Excellent resources
  • See other points of view
  • Saying the wrong thing/making mistakes

How to best address negative replies and critiques reflective of your personal values and employer’s social media policy?

  • Ignore, mute, block
  • Can use criticisms for personal growth

Notable individuals recent public discourse on verifiable resources:

Last week there was a  Twitter storm related to Elon Musk’s recent takeover of Twitter. He announced that a blue tick or verified status would now cost users $8 per month. U.S. politician AOC and Musk have since been at war with their tweets – her voicing her opposition to his idea that ‘free-speech’ will now require an $8/month subscription plan and accusations that Musk has now bricked certain functions of her account – and his defense and denial of her credibility and accusations.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out and if Musk’s takeover of Twitter will change the verified landscape of Twitter. If anyone can purchase a blue tick, which were historically difficult to obtain, the authenticity of online accounts will be harder to distinguish.  Additionally, I think it would increase the amount of bots and trolls ability to poison once verifiable resources. His claims to increase free-speech for Twitter users, is not getting off on a good foot.

AOC keeping it real last week during her public discourse with Musk:

My colleagues blog:

In their blog, PicPen states that “when public figures show themselves to the public, their remarks are more likely to be spread and recognized, thus showing social influence.” I found this statement interesting. When users choose to share details of their lives, their values, and information online they are putting themselves out there for the public to see. For notifiable individuals this can indeed spread their social influence. This also has me considering how users ideas can be twisted as their public discourse get shared and re-shared across numerous accounts. Without context, information can often be misconstrued. Something to consider as we share ourselves and information online. Thanks for your post!

#Blog8 Balancing PLN & Public Discourse

 

References:

MILLER. (2022). Sophie Lui – EDCI 338 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfcXgKLzOVM