Social media is a part of everyday life for most people, with multiple hours a day spent scrolling platforms for all sorts of information. While social media is often used to connect with friends and family, in the academic world, it’s used to progress your career.

Scholars and researchers use social media to spread relevant or helpful information they’ve uncovered, connecting with like-minded individuals or communities to grow their network. But your personal social media posts can reflect poorly on the entire department. That’s why many institutions and companies are enacting strict social media policies.

Having one account for personal use and one account for professional use can sometimes complicate matters. Instead, one social media profile for the entire department is the best option. It streamlines the information dissemination from a united front.

Creating a social media account can be overwhelming for “newbies” (the internet’s term for an inexperienced user). Luckily, the internet in general is also helpful when it comes to learning new things, such as how to create a social media profile.

The Top Social Media Sites for Academic Profiles

You already know that everyone and their grandmother is on Facebook. But when it comes to your scholarly reputation, it's better to leave this site to connect with your grandmother than other researchers.

Twitter is among the most prolific social media sites, with over 300 million profiles. While it is primarily a social connection site, it can be used to network with other researchers and scholars. Like many platforms, Twitter has its own language that one must familiarize themselves with for maximum exposure.

For example, the difference between a simple tweet and a subtweet is an important distinction. A tweet is a message you send directly to the Twitterverse. A subtweet alludes to a person or topic without explicitly mentioning them.

Subtweets are generally used during arguments between social media users, like when one Real Housewives star mocks a co-star. So, unless you’re planning to hotly debate a fellow scholar about a controversial issue, subtweeting isn’t necessary for your repertoire.

LinkedIn is often thought of as a job-seeking site. However, it’s also a vast networking site for numerous professions. In fact, even if you’re not actively searching for a new career position, having a LinkedIn profile is almost requisite in the scientific community. But is there a better platform for scholars to connect with others in their field?

How to Create a Department Profile

The purpose of a social media profile is to make sure everyone is on the same page, literally. The first step is assembling a small team fluent in social media and how it works. Social media can change in an instant. Ten years ago, everyone was on Facebook. Now TikTok is having its moment in popularity, even in academics.

The social media team can be established department members or an outside hire. Ideally, one member of the team would be the Social Media Manager to oversee the project. Other positions among the team are Content Creator to generate the profile and interact with connections, as well as an Analyst to study the engagement rate and other important data.

Once the team is assembled, they must agree on a profile that reflects the entire department, not just one or two individuals.

Regular posts and interactions with other social media users will build your content. Social media profiles can also be used to raise funds for departmental use by incorporating relevant advertisements.

Social media can bring attention and more eyes to your research method and findings, help you network, and forge important connections in the scientific community.  

Use Impactio for Your Individual Profile

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. all have their specific niche. While researchers and scientists can - and do - use those platforms to share their work, another platform exists that is geared specifically for the field.

Impactio is America’s foremost networking platform for science academia. Use Impactio for your department’s profile to ensure your content reaches further among the scientific research community.