Being part of the millennial generation led me to believe I was well equipped to take on INF506 – I was wrong! Although I have actively used social media platforms in my personal life since 2005 (when MySpace reigned supreme), Social Networking for Information Professionals has broadened my understanding and competency in assessing the “bigger picture” of the effects these platforms have in organisations. In addition to comprehending the effects of social media on society, it was also imperative to understand the benefits and risks associated with the use of these platforms in a professional setting, and the procedures and policies that should be implemented as a result. I use Facebook in a professional capacity for my role and have learnt valuable information within the subject that will be relevant to my application of the tool currently and in the future. I have also discovered what my personal preferences are regarding social media platforms; the subject content prompted me to consider my own ‘user needs’ when scrolling through daily news feeds.

Prior to beginning the subject, I was in a constant conflict with myself as to whether I should distance myself from social media altogether. This was a result of watching a documentary on Netflix called “The Social Dilemma”, a film exploring the dangerous impact of social networking and includes interviews with whistle-blowers who have worked within these private organisations as tech-experts (Orlowski, 2020). Now at the conclusion of the subject, I can appreciate the opportunities that social media presents, but also acknowledge the risks and know how to navigate through the noise. An influence on this shift in my perception was Cliff Lampe’s Ted Talk in Module 1, where negative opinions such as social media resulting in disconnected relationships were broken down and discussed. Lampe addresses the positives of social media through the means of community support, fund raising, and building relationships with people unlike ourselves (TED, 2015). The video resonated with me and demonstrated that not all is doom and gloom in the social media universe – I was feeling positive again! I realised that social media is not going anywhere; to be progressive as an information professional is to become literate in utilising it (and in turn teaching others).

One aspect of social media use has not changed throughout my progress in the subject – and that is my dislike of Twitter. The last time I attempted to jump on the Twitter bandwagon was many years ago when it rose in popularity, and at the start of the session I downloaded the app again and fired up my old account. The information provided on Twitter as a tool in Module 3 gave me a better understanding of its functionality and its position within the microblogging space (Engadget, 2017). Despite this, I cannot grasp the attraction of Twitter and have established that as a user I much prefer visual content through apps like Instagram and TikTok. Throughout the subject content it has become apparent that some users are visual, and others are more text-based, such as preferring to read status updates or blog material/articles. As a consumer, I have identified what appeals to me and which posts I will more likely invest in through the means of tagging, sharing, and publishing content. David Lee King’s slideshow presentation contributed to this thought process throughout the module material, as my personal preferences aligned with the overall shift in customer experience due to technology (King, 2014). In turn, I have also reflected upon my online identity throughout my learning within the subject. A journal article in Module 5 by Huang-Horowitz & Freberg (2016) encapsulated the importance of linking organisational identity and reputation messages online. Evidence has demonstrated that the rise of social media’s prominence has brought a new urgency for the need to manage this identity effectively to successfully disseminate branded content (Huang-Horowitz & Freberg, 2016. p.196). After reading this article and other related module content, it prompted me to reflect on my organisation’s reputational messages that are published on social media, as well as how my own online identity is presented to others via what is posted and shared. I acknowledged that I take a lot of care into what is published on behalf of the organisation, especially if it is in response to negative feedback or a complaint. The learnings from this subject are applicable to my current responsibilities in the workplace and I feel that I can harness these skills for my future social media endeavours.

A valuable lesson that I have learnt from INF506 is the need to continuously add to my skillset and professional development as an information professional. The role of the librarian will continue to evolve beyond Web 2.0, so it will be my responsibility to grow and adapt along with these transformations in the future. As Module 4 states, the ability to network has become an important part of a Librarian 2.0’s professional toolkit (O’Connell et al, 2018) and will ensure sustainability of the role. Another big takeaway from the subject was learning and researching about how to implement a social media project, to successfully complete Assessment 1. I enjoyed this task due to its practicality and element of a “hands on” approach by completing a dummy Instagram page for an imaginary library. I appreciate that a lot needs to be considered in a business proposal such as this, by identifying all stakeholders and potential impacts of the implementation. The aspect of introducing supporting policies and documentation to the organisation for the social media proposal was applicable to real life working environments. Again, I was prompted to consider what strategic plans exist in my current workplace to support social media use.

One aspect of the subject requirements I did wrestle with are the OLJ Tasks. I have never written a blog post, so the prospect of publishing informal content was a little daunting to me. I did find it reassuring when other students would comment on my posts providing positive feedback, and I also enjoyed the interactive nature of commenting on others. I found it beneficial to gain insight from other students who already work in the industry as I have no experience yet – it is like receiving the “inside scoop”! One comment posted on my Module 6 OLJ left a lasting impression, as Lisa recommended her own blog to extend my learning further (https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/amywriggleswortholj/2021/01/09/module-6-on-to-the-future/#comments ). This exchange of knowledge has broadened my perception of social media, therefore contributing to my competency as an information professional.

INF506 has been one of the more practical subjects that I have undertaken within my studies, as it is undeniable that social media skills are fundamental in today’s information world. I now understand the weight and responsibility of creating a social media presence for an organisation and appreciate the opportunities that these tools present. I view social media in a more positive light due to the content provided within INF506, as I have experienced firsthand how it allows information professionals to collaborate and be empowered for the future.

References

Engadget. (2017, October). Twitter: From microblogging to the president’s mouthpiece.

[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekCAlWK_O3M

Huang-Horowitz, N. C. & Freberg, K. (2016). Bridging organisational identity and reputational

messages online: A conceptual model. Corporate Communications: An International

       Journal, 21(2), 195-212. https://doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-06-2014-0034

King, D. L. (2014, May). Improving the Customer Experience: on the web, in the library, in the

       community. [Slideshow]. Slideshare. https://www.slideshare.net/davidleeking/improving-the-customer-experience-35320670?qid=7979cd46-aedb-4a25-9fd3-eee57f108f1b&v=&b=&

O’Connell, J., Liu, Y. H., & Wallis, J. (2018). Information Professional 2.0. [Study

notes]. In C. Gerts & C.Chans (Eds.), INF506 – Social Networking for Information

         Professionals. Interact 2. https://interact2.csu.edu.au/

Orlowski, J. (Director). (2020). The Social Dilemma [Film]. Netflix Films.

TED. (2015, April). Cliff Lampe: Is social media good for you? [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po01VlNvCcQ