Thread by @Gas_Craic

@iceman_ex, myself and @dr_mattmorgan talk about how to keep yourself intellectually safe on Social Media at #SOA21 (full talk at soa.ics.ac.uk)

A thread 🧵👇

There's been a lot that's gone on over the past few years that's exposed the well known 'darker' side of social media. Traditional paradigms of knowledge dissemination have changed (if not disappeared). Much higher tech-savy population. #SOA21

This has democratised the discussion space to an extent. It allows for *anybody* (lit. anybody) to get involved. #SOA21

Distractions and places to vent are plentiful online. These can lead to serious problems if not used properly. Some colleagues still use poor judgement when communicating as a doctor/HCP online. You are held to a different standard. #SOA21

As HCP's we bring the side of us that looks to explain and nurture, and can apply this online to anonymous people (or bots) who have no more want to learn from anyone, let alone you. This unfiltered access to our streams of conscience, in our personal lives is not healthy. #SOA21

Moreover, outside of our own specialist areas, we may not actually have the ability to offer a considered judgement or opinion? Always worth keeping this in mind and considering. #SOA21

We live in an era of 'epistemic trespass' (thank you @docpgb) which has brought its own unique challenges to Medical Twitter. This causes untold amounts of time to be wasted on things.... #SOA21 blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/w…

The merest whims of someone's loose scientific bowel motions are now tendered as legitimate ideas or claims on your attention. You cannot battle this. It is an endemic problem. Between 'stupid' and 'clever' alike. #SOA21

When will we stop pouring effort, money, academic resources, brain-power and emotions into defending against other people's ridiculous notions? Why can't we move on? #SOA21

Perhaps we can't let someone think that they're right, when we *know* that they're not? But what's the cost on 'being right' to your mental health and personal/professional life? #SOA21

Judicious use of 'block, mute and report' on social media platforms is, we estimated, something that is used less by newcomers to SoMe, and later by those previously affected by negative/toxic online environments. It's good to have it in your arsenal. Block and move on! #SOA21

The power of non-engagement with bullsh*t - as @dr_mattmorgan rightly points out, is an extremely useful thing to train yourself to do. Beware of knee-jerk reactions. Don't feed the trolls! #SOA21

Personal learning networks (have been around for donkeys @cianmcdermott) and represent a very useful way to transition laterally from twitter. Trying to start WhatsApp groups with other professionals with a common interest can be amazing and rewarding #SOA21

They provide more personal space. Whilst they have problems and limitations - they can be a more nuanced environment for discussions. Meeting people at conferences can be a great way to start one. #SOA21

So, intellectual safety. Be aware that the #FOAMed echo chamber is real. We all know it. But it's part of ONE input into your professional and personal brain - not the sole. Constant positive validation for your beliefs/ideologues is *usually not* how the real world goes #SOA21

Use reputable and multiple sources, where possible, to get the foundations - and never stop searching yourself for the truth. We shouldn't rely on solo sources of information to form our opinions. #SOA21

One of my SoMe maxims = In social media debates, the fiercer the polarity of a discussion is, the higher the possibility that the real answer lies somewhere plonk in the middle. There's often room for more than one way of doing things.... #SOA21