Who doesn’t have some sort of social media? Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, the list goes on and on. I remember the day I got my first social media, Facebook. It has been tracking much of my life since middle school including all the good, some of the bad, and a little bit of the ugly. Let’s just say, I’m not particularly happy with some of those pictures I was tagged in 10 years ago. So, what are the consequences of having your life on display for the whole world to see, other than embarrassment?
As I’m starting the transition into the professional world, there are a lot of things to consider. One big one is how do I come off to other professionals in my field and potential clients. It is so easy nowadays to google anyone and find out everything you may or may not want to know. That’s why it’s more important now than ever to guard your social media and to put only your best self out there. Scott Sterling gives some tips on how to navigate the minefield of responsible social media use as a teacher (this easily applies to therapists too). He first suggests googling yourself often to see what other people can find out about you. While there may not be a lot you can do about it if you find something you don’t like, at least you’ll be aware of it. And in the future you can filter yourself by asking, “Would I mind parents seeing this?”. I think you can expand that beyond parents to coworkers and clients as well. Sterling also suggests locking down your Facebook account. You may not be able to stop someone from tagging you in an embarrassing post or picture but you can change your settings so that only friends can see it. With that in mind, make sure you’re selective in choosing who your friends are. Maybe having coworkers as friends isn’t the best idea.
Another form of social media that Sterling suggests staying away from is free dating apps like Tinder and OK Cupid. There have been instances where students have found their teachers on these sites then catfished them, setting up a fake account and getting involved with their teacher. This is not only embarrassing but can “cross the line into illegal territory”. While there are several ways in which social media can be bad for you as a professional there are circumstances where it is actually good.
You can leverage social media to promote yourself. For private practices especially social media can be used to promote their practice and find new clients. One positive form of social media that I take part in is a closed Facebook group called “Music Therapists Unite!”. There are 6.4k members in this group including credentialed music therapists, interns, and students from around the world. Members share special moments from their sessions, share advice about specific interventions and populations, and post job openings. As a student, it’s a great window into what sort of problems I’ll be facing and the solutions to those problems. It’s just a great resource for the whole community.
https://blog.learningsciences.com/2016/09/13/a-teachers-responsible-social-media-presence/
How do you use social media for your music therapy practice?
My Music Therapy Journey 