Thread by @DrPetra

Today’s #ResearchTip is a basic safety one. If you’re using social media for work or study,you may want to keep your DMs shut to anyone bar mutual follows, with another means of contact in your profile. It can reduce unwanted or abusive messaging #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter

Of course it’s up to you whether to have DMs open or not. And some people vary this,keeping them open at set times related to work or personal need and contact. But if you’re getting harassing, unkind or upsetting messages it’s okay to close this avenue off for your own wellbeing

It also is the case that minoritised folk that are working or studying in academia are much more likely to be harassed on social media and often by DM (the latter by colleagues or others who want to target without being seen by others). Maintaining boundaries can help you here.

Some people worry if you don’t keep DMs open you’ll miss something vital, but (IME) you don’t. Particularly if you have other means of contact that are just a bit less immediate than DMs. No specific rule for this. Just do what is right for keeping you comfortable and safe.

here’s a longer thread about other Twitter settings you can use to make this platform easier and safer. You’ll notice I set other ways along with keeping my DMs closed to non mutuals to maintain boundaries. Experiment with what works for you

https://twitter.com/drpetra/status/1351507003563270144