Teachers

Should I make all my social media accounts private?

Open or Close

The key is to determine what you want to use that particular social media account for and then decide.

Personal Use

If you are using social media in your personal life you should make the account private. In most cases, if an account is private all that a person will be able to see is the account name and profile picture:

• Make account private

• Use a different name or variation of your name

• Use an appropriate headshot or picture

Professional Use

If you are using social media to network, share your ideas, showcase achievements, and discuss issues you can make your account public. Always get permission from the school administration first before creating a school account. If you are public remember that anyone can see what you post:

• The Account could be public or private

• Use your name and/or subject

• Use an appropriate headshot or picture

What should I use privacy settings on social media for?

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There are lots of privacy settings and safety features available on social media sites. Some of the things you might want to consider using them for include:

• Securing personal information

• Customizing who you share posts with

• Controlling who can contact you and make friend requests

• Monitoring and managing what posts you are tagged in

• Keeping your location private

What should I do if I find negative posts that might impact my professional reputation?

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If you do find any negative or upsetting posts that will impact your professional reputation then save the evidence by taking a photo or screenshot and tell your school. Do not reply or comment on the post. Instead, use the reporting procedures of the site(s) involved. When reporting make sure you add as much information as possible.