Cleaning up your online profile Employers are increasingly using social media sites to screen prospective employees. It is never too early to clean up your ‘digital dirt’. Things which may put off future employers and that you are advised to remove include: • References to drug use or excessive alcohol consumption • Support of criminal activity • Extremist or intolerant views, e.g. racism, homophobia, sexism, sectarianism • Inappropriate pictures, e.g. nudity • Foul language or lewd comments • Membership of controversial or inappropriate groups • Inappropriate profile names and pictures!
Can I set up a social media site related to my studies or a Students’ Union Club or Society? Before setting up any social media site that could be perceived to be related to Queen’s, you must obtain permission from your Head of School or the Students’ Union Marketing Manager.
What should I do if someone posts offensive comments or images of me? If someone posts something that causes you offence or embarrassment, a polite request for removal should usually suffice. If the problem continues, or you feel you are being harassed, don’t hesitate to report this using the links provided on the social networking site. If you’ve received threatening messages or believe an offence has been committed, report it to the PSNI.
SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDE FOR STUDENTS
If you are being harassed online by another student, inform your Head of School or the Students’ Union.
WARNING! WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE DOESN’T ALWAYS STAY ONLINE! Remember that University Conduct Regulations apply to online as well as offline behaviour. You must abide by the Social Media Policy for Students and the Computer Resources Acceptable Use Policy available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia For further advice on using social media, check out our blog at blogs.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia or follow SocialMediaQUB on Facebook and Twitter. If you have a specific query about the appropriate use of social media, email: socialmedia@qub.ac.uk
twitter.com/SocialMediaQUB facebook.com/SocialMediaQUB QUB_SocialMedia.indd 1
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What’s it all about?
Going on work placement?
Social media is a great way of staying in touch and keeping up with what’s happening, but it can also be used to cause offence or embarrassment. We want our students to get the most out of sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, so we have created this guide to help you enjoy social media in a way that won’t compromise your personal safety, studies or future career.
We want you to show employers how great Queen’s students are, so remember:
CONNECT
Keep up-to-date with topics related to your studies or prospective career • Use Facebook and Twitter to find out about changes to University services such as the Library and IT facilities • Find out if your School uses social media • Get to know other people on your course and interact on group assignments • Connect with professional bodies and employers you would like to work with • But don’t let social media distract you from your studies - it is more important to get your assignment in on time!
• Don’t post negative comments about your colleagues, your employers or their clients
RESPECT
Think before you post • Avoid using sexist, homophobic, racist or sectarian language
• Be extra careful that you don’t put anything online that could identify vulnerable groups such as patients or children • Don’t accept friend requests from patients or children that you are working with
• Ask permission before sharing images of others
• Don’t put anything online that may be confidential such as contract details or financial information
• Consider whether your post could cause offence or embarrassment, now or in the future - even if it is not intended
• Find out about your placement employer’s social media policy
• Avoid using social media if you’re upset or have been drinking - you are more likely to post something you later regret!
• Try to keep personal and professional online activities separate
PROTECT
There is no such thing as an entirely private social media site • Check the privacy settings of sites you use • Clean up your online profile and don’t post anything that you wouldn’t want a prospective employer to see •
Be careful about the personal info you make available online - don’t let everyone know where you live or that you are going away for the weekend
• Remember - anything you put online may become public and will probably be around for years
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Cleaning up your online profile Employers are increasingly using social media sites to screen prospective employees. It is never too early to clean up your ‘digital dirt’. Things which may put off future employers and that you are advised to remove include: • References to drug use or excessive alcohol consumption • Support of criminal activity • Extremist or intolerant views, e.g. racism, homophobia, sexism, sectarianism • Inappropriate pictures, e.g. nudity • Foul language or lewd comments • Membership of controversial or inappropriate groups • Inappropriate profile names and pictures!
Can I set up a social media site related to my studies or a Students’ Union Club or Society? Before setting up any social media site that could be perceived to be related to Queen’s, you must obtain permission from your Head of School or the Students’ Union Marketing Manager.
What should I do if someone posts offensive comments or images of me? If someone posts something that causes you offence or embarrassment, a polite request for removal should usually suffice. If the problem continues, or you feel you are being harassed, don’t hesitate to report this using the links provided on the social networking site. If you’ve received threatening messages or believe an offence has been committed, report it to the PSNI.
SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDE FOR STUDENTS
If you are being harassed online by another student, inform your Head of School or the Students’ Union.
WARNING! WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE DOESN’T ALWAYS STAY ONLINE! Remember that University Conduct Regulations apply to online as well as offline behaviour. You must abide by the Social Media Policy for Students and the Computer Resources Acceptable Use Policy available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia For further advice on using social media, check out our blog at blogs.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia or follow SocialMediaQUB on Facebook and Twitter. If you have a specific query about the appropriate use of social media, email: socialmedia@qub.ac.uk
twitter.com/SocialMediaQUB facebook.com/SocialMediaQUB QUB_SocialMedia.indd 1
16/09/2013 10:31