Book with Letters Flying out
6
My Life is an Open Book

October 17, 2008, Kelli Matthews

I made this comment at “Meet the Faculty,” a class brand new graduate students take to learn about faculty expertise in the school for things like thesis and dissertation committees. The discussion was around using social media in classes and specifically how I use these tools to facilitate discussions and relationships between students and myself.

My core point was this: If you don’t want people to know about some facet of your life either a) don’t do it or b) don’t put it online. Your online “life” is an extension of your personal brand, for lack of a better phrase. If I put it online, then I’m ok with you knowing that bit of information and it’s in sync with my professional and academic “image.”

If you can’t be transparent, I tell clients, then you need to make changes in the way that you do business.

I think there’s this part of some students that feels like social networks should afford some sort of privacy – that facebook is a social space to share experiences and memories and not for potential employers (or professors) to get info about you. I’ve talked before about this orientation. I guess I hate to be the party pooper – but um… too bad.

So, while my life is probably more open to students than some would be comfortable with, for me, it’s ok. I enjoy sharing my life with my students (past, present and future) and my colleagues. But my digital footprint is well scripted and the parts of my life I choose to share with all my “friends” and “followers,” including students, is very intentional. It’s not fake – it’s intentional.

Anyone who follows me online in any venue (facebook, twitter or this blog) can be assured that you’re getting the real me. It’s the same me you get in a class, or a meeting or as an old friend. But you don’t get to know things about me that I choose to keep private.

What do you think? If you’re a student, do you enjoy connecting with professors online? If you’re a prof, what do you think?

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Kelli Matthews
  • Beth Evans

    The transition to becoming social media friends with professors and PR professionals has been a difficult one for me because I’m naturally most comfortable leaving my personal life out of my professional one. For example, I don’t usually “hang out” with people in my professional and academic networks, even if I like working with them. That said, I know that connecting with these people online by reading what they read and asking them questions has been an invaluable aspect of my public relations education.

    One of my constant dilemmas is whether or not to include my Facebook wall in my limited profile. I want professors and professionals who are on my limited profile list to be able to have wall conversations with me, but I don’t want them to see something embarrassing a friend could write.

  • Kelli Matthews

    Beth, this is very thoughtful and clearly you’ve carefully considered how to participate in social media as a professional.

    For me, I began my participation in social media as an extension of my professional life, so it’s never been a purely social endeavor.

    I’m connected with “real life” friends in Facebook and MySpace, but everyone has equal access to my profile.

    The thing that I’ve found recently is that, with more people on Twitter, I need to watch what I say a little bit. A client recently began following me, for example. That changes the conversation a little bit for me.

    Thanks for the comment!

  • cvanduyn

    Kelli, I think you bring up a very important point about separating the “social” aspect of social media from the business aspect. It is becoming much more common for businesses to use social media, and I think that’s something that we, as young professionals, especially need to be aware of.

    This year is the first time I have used social media for anything other than keeping in touch with friends, and it is difficult sometimes to separate my professional networks from my social ones.

    Similar to what you said about having to watch what you say on Twitter, I am also now having to watch what I post on my blog, Facebook, and Twitter, because I am connected with other professionals and professors who could eventually determine whether or not I have a career.

    It is becoming very common for employers to check potential employees’ Facebook and MySpace pages for any potential behavior risks. And, whether we like it or not, there are ways around the privacy settings on our social networks, so if you really want to keep something private, you can’t post it online. Or else you will have to be prepared to live with the consequences…

    Also, as Beth said, it is sometimes very difficult to leave certain comments from friends on your Facebook wall, because they could reflect poorly on your character. But, how do you stay transparent and honest about who you are, while still having fun with friends online?

    I guess the real question is: How do you create an extension of your “personal brand” that colleagues and potential employers will want to see, without giving up other aspects of your online social life? Is it even possible?

    ~Camille

  • Isbel

    Well, I have been a prof at Portland State, but also a student at PSU and UO. I’m also a 70′s feminist, which means that transparency is important to me in terms of leveling the playing field. I always disclosed to students whatever I thought was important for them to know–without simply using my position as prof to “client” about my life.
    Beyond this, however, is what small town life in most places has been and is now. People knew/know about one another’s lives. There was/is little anonymity, and yet people felt/feel closer to one another than we who are more anonymous do. Research shows that people in the US are overwhelmingly lonely now–very few claim to even have one best friend. And yet we don’t want our lives to be known by others. Quite the conundrum.
    Thanks for opening this up for discussion, Kelly.

  • nolan marcos

    Hey
    I found your blog using google and really appreciate your comments

  • Tiffany Gallicano

    Kelli, sharing things about myself online has been a gradual process. When I first started, I was hesitant. As I became more integrated into the online PR community, it became much easier, and I now feel comfortable with it. You could say that rather than diving into the pool, I waded in from the shallow end. I’m swimming now, but it was a gradual process of getting used to it.

    P.S. The Kekau chocolates are incredible! Just two left…