Nurses? What next?

For my topic I wanted to look into different areas of social networking and who it does affect, I found this journal article on how social networking can affect nurses. I found it quite interesting, although short it has I believe a powerful impact on you, I never thought that social networking sites could be such a problem for nurses. The author Linda Keech was quoted saying

“Nurses and midwives who use these sites to engage in conversations or share files online must be careful, therefore, that they do not breach the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NM C) (2008a) code, which states that nurses must ‘respect people’s right to confidentiality’ and ‘uphold the reputation of the profession at all times’. If information that identifies patients is put on the internet, patient confidentiality has been breached. This principle is not only enshrined in the midwives’ code of conduct, but is also part of every employee’s duty of confidence, and those who breach patient confidentiality in this way face disciplinary action, perhaps leading to dismissal.” [3]

It’s hard not hard to believe that anyone hasn’t done the same thing, whinges about work or had a issue that they have at work, they published on their facebook account. But just like teachers, nurses also have to be careful about their reputations and careers. So in the end is it just safer to not have a social networking page? Evidence suggests that it would be, but some are fighting this as they feel that just because you have a career in the public eye doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to have the benefits of socialising on Facebook or MySpace just like every other person that doesn’t have that problem.

Friendship? Friend Request?

So I found this journal article that relates solely on the positives of social networking, it’s called How to Win at Social Networking by communications scholar Jeffery Hancock, who believes “Cyberspace friendships form over common interests just as they do in real life.” [2] Without the use of social networking sites it’s harder for some to find common interests, with having a social page it makes it easier to find those common interests because they are listed for your taking to do with what you need. Social networking can have a positive influence in your life, yes you must be careful but this article demonstrates that it can be fun and can lead into more powerful things like love or a great friendship. With greater research it has been found that emotions can be travelled along social networking sites that you don’t have to constantly be in front of a person to display this. Some may fear that this is fallback and will limit face to face contact and more time in front of a computer. This article shows that there are positives to social networking you just may not have realised it yet.

I Gave Up MySpace for Lent.....

For my second topic for my research journal I have decided to focus on online social networking. This topic is very broad, and so I’ve decided to narrow my research down to just a few key elements of what are some of the negatives and benefits of social networking. My first resource is the journal article “I gave up MySpace for Lent: New Teachers and Social Networking Sites” By William Kist a teacher at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. The article presents a negative approach to social networking, but also has a way that we could fix it or to also to have a way to better protect ourselves from these problems occurring. It also shows how society is applying pressure to teachers to remove their social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace in case a student finds their site and it has material deemed inappropriate and could have a serious impact on ones career. “Principles are googling for information on undergrads before they are allowed into their buildings for student teaching.” [1] This implies that this is just the beginning of what is too come with future implications on teachers and their use of web 2.0. Soon all teachers will be forced to remove themselves from social networking sites and this article presents evidence that this is just the beginning that more changes and problems will occur from online social networking.

Another day.. another entry..

As I was researching for my next journal entry I decided to have another look into YouTube and I found this commercial used to try and prevent cyber bullying occurring, the ad states “If you wouldn’t say it in person, why say it online?” Despite being an extremely nasty and awakening type of commercial it uses the wrong type of wording as to when it says "if you wouldn’t say it in person why say it online", because truth be told a lot of people, teenagers mainly do say that sort of nasty stuff in person and that is called bullying, while doing it online is cyber bullying.

The media’s approach to this should have realised that there is a difference to how this is displayed, and a better wording would have been more appropriate to suit the need to prevent and discourage cyber bullying.

For example If you were telling this to a person just like this then it would be bullying but you have to be face to face unlike cyber bullying where you can follow the person right into their homes, and end it with a new text message sign, something as such. Yes the ad may be effective for a fair amount of the targeted audience but for the other part, they would realise that it is not as effective as bullies do say that sort of thing in person and online.