Thread by @DrPetra

With Twitter facing an uncertain future, today's #ResearchTip is thread🧵all about how to plan your future social media use, ensuring you don't lose out and can stay safe. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp

Firstly, a reminder that none of us like change, and there's a lot being predicted that may or may not come true. So work from what you do know. Note why you use social media, what for, and to what benefit? That can indicate where you go next. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter

Remember, lots of academics don't use any social media and do okay. When Twitter first started most academics were very negative about it, viewing it as a pointless waste of time. Other social media platforms are largely ignored. What does this mean for you? #AcademicTwitter

It means if you decide to stop using Twitter,there are many other places to pick from. Typically academics also recommend LinkedIn and Facebook 🥱but you have a wealth of places to pick from as @andymiah helpfully explains andymiah.net/a-to-z-of-soci… #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter

If you decide to go elsewhere,or increase use of other platforms now's a great time to ask
- who do I want to reach?
- where will I find them?
- what do I want to achieve with social media?
- what platform is most accessible?
- what do I have time/skills to use?
#AcademicChatter

If you're migrating to different platforms, especially if you've not used them before, all take time to learn, adapt, connect and grow. If you're specifically using them to undertake/promote your research and teaching factor this into timescales and budgets. #AcademicTwitter

Whichever place(s) you pick, ensure you have
- time to create and share content
- factored in research ethics
- considered your audience(s) and their access needs
- the ability to manage new and/or concurrent social media feeds
- thought about your wellbeing within said space

To help you reflect on *all* social media use, I'd recommend Mark Carrigan's 'Social Media for Academics' which has lots of practical and helpful advice in it #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/soci…

Assuming you'll be staying here (at least for a while), check and amend your settings *today*. This can make the difference between a miserable experience and a bearable one. Here's a longer thread on how you can do that #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter

https://twitter.com/DrPetra/status/1351507003563270144?s=20&t=yMBrYyocWiXKxGQwopb3wA

I believe from what's been shared within the tech press that changes are afoot for this platform, so you will need to continually check your settings. It may be some things you can do to keep comfortable/safe now will be removed. That might be the decider in you leaving #HigherEd

There are particular functions (such as threading as I'm using now) that scholars really seem to love. Sharing gifs, images, video, or links to resources are also popular. Note which things you find most useful. Seek additional platforms that let you do that. #AcademicTwitter

You may decide to stay, but use the platform less. That may be wise if, as predicted, things become more negative or hostile (particularly for minoritised scholars). Here are some reflections on how you might wean yourself off Twitter #AcademicTwitter

https://twitter.com/DrPetra/status/1574685444515647489?s=20&t=yMBrYyocWiXKxGQwopb3wA

If you use this platform to connect, here's something else you can do *today* (or soon)
- ask people you're friendly with (including those you swap regular DMs with) if you can have their email or phone number. You may find texting or WhatsApp much better #AcademicChatter

Next, note who you regularly follow. That may be key individuals, research networks, organisations, professional bodies, support groups and more. Make a list of all their websites and follow them on their other socials. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #HigherEd

Why is this important? Because most of us are working on the assumption we may choose to leave. We aren't considering that we may not have a choice, accounts may be deleted, or if we do choose it might be very fast.Note other means of connection as a priority. #AcademicTwitter

If you're moving to other platforms and there are people you need to know this, create a list and update them. You can do this via other channels if you feel safer. This means you won't lose your networks, which for many are a lifesaver. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter

I note this thread is somewhat doom laden, and scholars love nothing more than a bit of drama. So keep things in perspective. This is a communication tool that should work for you and not make you sad, anxious, or at risk. So be pragmatic - and note all the positives too!

As mentioned, academia was notoriously slow to catch on to social media's potential. Once it did it fixated on Twitter and most unis (and academics) really only think of Twitter when they mean 'social media'. This means others may try and trap you here, not okay. #AcademicTwitter

Nobody should be pushed to use social media at all - nor disadvantaged for that choice. Or forced to use a specific platform that is inaccessible or unsafe. Now is a crucial time for unis to consider staff and student safety and wellbeing, reviewing Twitter constantly for this.

We have the opportunity to pause and reflect
- what has Twitter brought to academia (and vice versa)?
- what has gone well and badly?
- who has been left out?
- who has been helped or harmed?
- why are academics using social media?
- where may we all move to?
#AcademicChatter

Something I've noted in the past few days are people fearful if they leave they'll miss out. I suspect the act of posting here brings a greater sense of academic connectivity than really exists, however this can be a helpful platform. Our challenge is to explain what else works.

That also means acknowledging that through language, digital poverty, time, accessibility and finances, and other factors there are many staff and students who're unable to use social media as they would like. Huge inequalities exist here that many appear happy to continue.

So if this is giving you a taste of what losing access or not knowing how to access other platforms is like, now is a great opportunity to consider within your uni, department, discipline or research and teaching networks how we can find diverse platforms that welcome all.

It's also a very good time for us to note that a vast amount of social media training for academics, if it exists at all, is either Dave from Geography who has 1,320 followers and has been on Twitter (only) for about six years and will tell you all he knows (not much).

Or unis pay for expensive consultants who again don't know much about other platforms or core issues around ethics, safety, wellbeing, participant need, professional conduct and risk, and the impact of culture wars. All of this needs to change. We need focused, critical support.

Separately, lots of people use Twitter to recruit participants but aren't taught how to create a recruitment plan, accessible invitations, or ethical practice. More to the point most participants *aren't on here*! So a good time to learn platforms they are using. #AcademicTwitter

In summary, here are tasks you need to do NOW:
1. Check and tighten your settings (and regularly review this)
2. Identify who you want to keep in touch with (ask for email, WhatsApp, phone details)
3. Save websites and other social media details for important contacts #HigherEd

Here are the things you need to do SOON:
4. Identify other platforms you might use to connect and communicate (e.g. LinkedIn, Discord, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Mastadon, Twitch, YouTube)
5. Seek *useful* training on these
6. Factor So/Me usage into your diary and budgets

Here are things you should be doing as STANDARD:
7. Consulting (and critiquing) uni/professional guidelines for social media use
8. Regularly using the mute and block functions 😉
9. Reporting abusive conduct (including academics bullying others)
10. Prioritising safety/wellbeing

I hope this was useful. It may leave you with questions - so please ask me if anything wasn't clear. You may have ideas on what you'll be doing next or recommendations for other platforms (including guidelines for use). If so, please share. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter

Related - washingtonpost.com/technology/202…

My plan is to remain for now, but I'll be engaging even less than I have been. I intend to use other platforms more. Not sure which yet. My plan's to keep sharing information here, but I won't be interacting much. You can reach me via email if you need a chat.

I've been unhappy about so much of social media (and especially here) for a long while, for many reasons. But long term there has to be a decision about sharing information for the good among a platform that enables harm. I'm not sure that's possible, or where we go from here.

Related -

https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/1586702056487796737?s=20&t=o9u51FKJgEroDZpuAKZdcQ

Preparing to use other platforms is necessary for many reasons including
- whether you'll be able to countenance remaining
- if you're still able to use Twitter as you'd like
- your personal safety
- whether there's even a platform left in the (near) future
#AcademicTwitter