Your Digital Footprint & Your Profession [2]
Every member of your profession values their own freedom of speech but will expect the good standing of their profession to be guarded and maintained by all who practice. Your profession relies on trust.
![Your Digital Footprint & Your Profession [2].png](images/pic010.png)
Your Reputation
Sharing too impulsively about yourself, ignoring opportunities to mould and harness your Digital Footprint yourself, leaves your most valuable asset in the hands of others. Don't ignore your online reputation. Whether you are consciously contributing to it or not, your Digital Footprint and online profile are being formed. You are the biggest stakeholder in the creation of your greatest asset - your reputation.
Caution and Restraint
Be clear about the expectations of your profession and remain vigilant to the fact that that while your friends may be free to vent online and post controversial opinions or risqué images on a particular issue or topic, you may not have this same freedom based on the expectations of the public, your conservative profession or public or private services employer. Familiarise yourself with your professional code of conduct and the guidelines that your regulatory body, profession and employer publish around the use of social and digital media and information governance.
Scope of Practice
Do not overstate your experience, knowledge or scope of practice and avoid being drawn into giving professional advice or consultations online, although sign-posting others to appropriate authoritative sites and resources is not a bad idea! Be seen to be helpful. If posting with your professional title or affiliation, you should make your name explicit, declare openly any potential bias or conflicts of interest - such as commercial interests.
Authoritative sites for health schools include: NHS Choices
Actions and Consequences
The advent of social media has served to blur the boundary between personal and professional lives. The sum of the material you post online, across multiple sites, (from comments left on newspaper sites, to WhatsApp to Facebook, Linkedin and blogs to social bookmarking, Snapchat, iMessage , Youtube, Instagram and Twitter) can impact on how your offline behaviour is interpreted. Understand the limitations and fluid nature of the privacy settings on social networks, avoid posting material that could be used to undermine you, be seen to use social media well. Take a long term view of everything you post and craft a great impression of you.
Points For Practice
Reflect on the elements you associate with those in your profession that contribute towards a positive digital profile. Consider creating similar elements for yourself.
