Professionalism and the Use of Social Media

Main Article Content

Nicole Mathies

Abstract

Social media has rapidly expanded over the last few years. Active users know of the benefits and potential to do good but may be less aware of the insidious risks. When misused, social media can contribute to anxiety, depression, and even threaten physical safety. Of late, professionalism in social media has become a sensitive topic, especially in medicine. Ethical guidelines regarding the appropriate use of this constantly evolving platform have not been clearly implemented, resulting in significant uncertainty for both the consumers and governing bodies. In this commentary, I will discuss my personal experience with the controversial use of social media and propose novel methods to improve professionalism at the University of Ottawa. 

Article Details

Section
Commentary

References

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