We've been answering a lot of questions lately about the difference between a professional or personal social media profile, and how to manage them safely.
For the record, we're encouraging people to:
- Use social media profiles to talk about their work, when it is appropriate to do so
- We believe that a face and a name, and a deep knowledge of a specific policy area, is far more appealing to our audiences than anonymous statements from a corporate account
- If people are joining a social media platform for the first time, we always encourage them to open one account, and be really clear about its purpose: completely personal/mix of personal and professional/purely for work. Ideally people will take the mixed approach, because after all, it's social media.
- Even with a mixed or professional-only approach, this account still belongs to you, and is your responsibility.
- By doing this, we hope that people will think a little more carefully about their own online profile, ways to use it effectively and prevent us from becoming the 'social media police' for BIS.
- And obviously, we trust our colleagues to get on with it. No-one wants to work with a digital team who put too many caveats or rules around personal communication.
There is some refreshed (Twitter) guidance here for civil servants, from the Government Communication Network. Not sure I agree with the comment about running two accounts, but if that's all people are comfortable with, then it is probably a tidy enough solution.
We're here to help and advise on use of social media in the department, so drop us a line if you're unsure about something.
Stay up-to-date by signing up for email alerts from this blog.
1 comment
Comment by Ben Rusholme posted on
Tim, I agree with you - there is little point in trying to separate personal and professional profiles on social media