Establishing a web presence

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Greetings,

What is your personal stance on establishing a professional web presence? Do you think it is important to brand yourself on social media and the like? Curious to see what others feel about such activities.

Personally: I took a step back from social media for around half a year. Since then, I've rejoined, but only in a professional standpoint (utilising it more to connect with colleagues and blog about things that directly concern the field I'm passionate about [I'd like to think this isn't just a "oh look at me I have no life outside topic x", I'm genuinely very passionate about the field in particular], although I do admit I have a highly secured private Facebook for friends and relatives).

I'd love to hear what you all think of self-branding and establishing an online presence

Thanks,

B.

 

[Ismet]

What does this even mean? What do you hope to accomplish from it?

 

[About28]

IMHO, I think that a professional web presence is extremely, however regrettably, important. People are going to talk about physicians online, you might as well have the ability to direct that conversation. I personally hate how much medicine is turning into a consumerist market, but I have very little experience with it. I'm sure other people have much more experience with the topic.

 

[neusu]

I do admit I have a highly secured private Facebook for friends and relatives).

?

 

[deleted407021]

SDN is my only online presence and it is, of course anonymous. I've never been fond of putting my personal information (even my name, really) on the open Internet. It just makes me uncomfortable that people have access at any time to even that much of my personal information. I suppose I am old fashioned in that sense, but I fully understand that there are advantages to maintaining a professional social networking presence. Being able to communicate with all your classmates/co-workers in one place is beneficial but to me, social networking lends itself to controversy and unprofessional behavior. What I mean is that, if you're not careful, your online presence can quickly dissolve into something detrimental. My mama was a teacher for 23 years and she can cite several instances where colleagues of her's lost their jobs and a chunk of their credibility when a parent or administrator identified something on their personal or professional FB/twitter/google + accounts which they thought was inappropriate for a teacher. Even though what they do on their free time is their own business, it is accessible to everyone who may have the ability to see it(that could be just a few friends or the entire world). We all do things which we would rather not have plastered on the Internet, whether we are aware of it or not. I am going to go as long as I can without a social networking presence. It's best not to court danger.

 

[Boolean]

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Right. Should clarify. I do have a Facebook profile, but I only use it for friends and relatives. I've set up the security settings to the point at which it isn't indexed by web-browsers, doesn't show up when you search for it, and only a very close circle of people (namely, blood relatives) can see any personally identifying information other than my name and picture. Does that clear it up at all? Apologies for being a bit vague about that

 

[Boolean]

What does this even mean? What do you hope to accomplish from it?

Having a well-developed web presence can be particularly beneficial when applying for scholarships and internships, from what I've noticed (albeit, at the lower levels of study). Nowadays, people will often Google potential candidates, just to see if they can gather some dirt on them. A positive web presence can be rather helpful in this regards. Not to mention, networking is fairly important. I've connected with a few of the docs I know from volunteering on LinkedIn, and this has led to a few other doctors allowing me to shadow under them (in a sort of, hey, I can vouch for this person) obviously this can be easily done in person, but LinkedIn does streamline the process a bit, I've found)

 

[Ismet]

Having a well-developed web presence can be particularly beneficial when applying for scholarships and internships, from what I've noticed (albeit, at the lower levels of study). Nowadays, people will often Google potential candidates, just to see if they can gather some dirt on them. A positive web presence can be rather helpful in this regards. Not to mention, networking is fairly important. I've connected with a few of the docs I know from volunteering on LinkedIn, and this has led to a few other doctors allowing me to shadow under them (in a sort of, hey, I can vouch for this person) obviously this can be easily done in person, but LinkedIn does streamline the process a bit, I've found)

So have the LinkedIn account and don't post anything unprofessional on social media or other websites. Simple.

Facebook is very beneficial for connecting with classmates, as we share a lot of study materials in our Facebook group, and social events are mainly advertised through FB. I'd say less than 5 of my classmates don't have a Facebook.

There's really no need for a "well-developed web presence" in applying to med school. Just make sure whatever is out there is positive.

 

[Boolean]

So have the LinkedIn account and don't post anything unprofessional on social media or other websites. Simple.

Facebook is very beneficial for connecting with classmates, as we share a lot of study materials in our Facebook group, and social events are mainly advertised through FB. I'd say less than 5 of my classmates don't have a Facebook.

There's really no need for a "well-developed web presence" in applying to med school. Just make sure whatever is out there is positive.

I see. In regards to the study materials bit, what do you mean? Are you talking course notes or textbooks that you may have "found"?
A bit confused, hopefully you can clarify.
As an undergrad, I've noticed most of my university's biomed undergraduate pages are filled with piracy. Unsure if that is common practice elsewhere or if my university's students are just particularly.... thrifty.

 

[Ismet]

I see. In regards to the study materials bit, what do you mean? Are you talking course notes or textbooks that you may have "found"?
A bit confused, hopefully you can clarify.
As an undergrad, I've noticed most of my university's biomed undergraduate pages are filled with piracy. Unsure if that is common practice elsewhere or if my university's students are just particularly.... thrifty.

Study guides, sharing helpful youtube videos or journal articles. One of my classmates makes histology and pathology review powerpoints for every class that are extremely helpful.