Social Media Guidelines

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

Social media refers to a variety of internet-based resourses that share content among users. [1] Information is generated by the user and can be shared openly or in selected groups. [1] Socia media may include media such as social networking sites, forums, blogs, video- or picture-sharing sites.[1]

Social media are a phenomenon with an expanding and prominent role in modern societies. [2] Global social media statistics show that there are 4.65 million users worldwide and growing in numbers, which is nearly half of the global population. [3] Users visit on average 7.4 different social media platforms each month, spending on average 2 1/2 hours per day in social media. [3]

Ranking of social media platforms by global active use

The five world's most commonly used platforms by order of global active user figures in April 2022 were: [3]

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • WhatsUp
  • Instagram
  • WeChat

Social media use in Physiotherapy[edit | edit source]

With numbers of users and hours spent rising, social media may offer numerous benefits to health professionals and physiotherapists in terms of:

  • communication, [4]
  • networking, [5]
  • learning, [6][7]
  • professional development, [8]
  • promotional activity, professional or public health related [4]
  • clinical studies recruitment [9]

However, the use of social media may also exhibit challenges as it can blur the boundaries between professional and social life, and pose ethical or privacy issues. It is vital that health professionals are aware of the opportunities and pitfalls that they face.

International guidance[edit | edit source]

Some guidance on the use of social media for physiotherapists can be found below.

Europe: Social media management for European Physiotherapy Associations

Australia: Social media, Australian Physiotherapy Association

Canada: Social Media Guidelines, Canadian Physiotherapy Association

New Zealand: Social Media E-book for Physios, New Zealand Physiotherapy Association

United Kingdom: Focus on standards: social networking sites, Health Professions Council, UK and Social Media Guidance, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, UK

United States of America: A guide to social media, blogging, and online tools, APTA

Resources[edit | edit source]

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Key resourses are found here:

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pillow M., Hopson L., Bond M., Cabrera D., Patterson L., Pearson D., et al. Social media guidelines and best practices: recommendations from the council of Residency Directors Social Media Task Force. West J Emerg Med 2014; 15(1):26-30.
  2. Ahmed O., Claydon L., Ribeiro D., Arumugam A., Higgs C., Baxter D. Social media for physiotherapy clinics: considerations in creating a Facebook page. Phys Ther Reviews 2012;
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 DataReportal. Global Social Media Statistics. Available online: https://datareportal.com/social-media-users [accessed 9/7/2022]
  4. 4.0 4.1 Current Uses (and Potential Misuses) of Facebook: An Online Survey in Physiotherapy. Physiother Can 2016; 68(1):5-12.
  5. Giordano C., Giordano C. Health professions students' use of social media. J Allied Health. 2011 Summer;40(2):78-81.
  6. Maloney S., Moss A., Ilic D. Social media in health professional education: a student perspective on user levels and prospective applications. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2014 Dec;19(5):687-97.
  7. Gagnon K., Sabus C. Professionalism in a Digital Age: Opportunities and Considerations for Using Social Media in Health Care. Phys Ther. 2014; 95(3):406-414.
  8. Shibu L., Rajab E., Eldabi T. The role of social media in continuing professional development of physical therapists: a review of the literature. Physiotherapy 2015; 101(1):E1384.
  9. Zimmermann B., Willem T., Bredthauer C., Buyx A. Ethical Issues in Social Media Recruitment for Clinical Studies: Ethical Analysis and Framework. J Med Internet Res. 2022 May 3;24(5):e31231.