In a time where the internet can make people millionaires overnight, it can be very tempting to utilize social media as a medical student. Med influencers are becoming more popular, with several content creators using their platforms to share their lives and earn a few extra dollars.
However, social media as a medical student can be a slippery slope. Although social media can be a source of connection and information-sharing, it can also open you up to scrutiny.
There is a level of professional responsibility and tact that is expected of a medical student and physician off and on the internet. The level of respect and dignity associated with being a physician can be very beneficial. However, this privilege also comes with a requirement to be extra vigilant about your presentation to the outside world. The following list of dos and don’ts can help you navigate social media as a medical student so you can use it to its fullest ability without mistakes that can lead to irreversible consequences.
Do protect patient privacy
As a medical student, you may see really interesting cases, have negative patient experiences, or want to share a positive part of your journey to medicine. However, it’s challenging to share this on the internet without patients potentially feeling as if their privacy is being violated.
If you desire to share aspects of your clinical experience, here are some tips:
- De-identify patient information
- Change parts of the story that are not relevant
- Share the story several weeks or months after it occurs
- Refrain from using negative language to describe the patient
- Have a clear objective that involves more than just talking about the patient
Clinical stories can be significantly helpful, but there is a thin line when it comes to respecting patient privacy. Healthcare workers are fired all the time for violating their patient’s privacy. On top of that, if your patients see you on the internet speaking about other patients, they may refrain from wanting to be candid with you.
Don’t film in clinical spaces without permission
Trying to film a video in your home that simulates being at the hospital does dampen the production quality. However, filming in clinical spaces without permission can be potentially problematic. As a medical student, filming in work areas that belong to residents/attendings can seem like you are violating their privacy.
Clinical spaces often have private information on walls or whiteboards, so filming in those spaces increases the risk of accidentally catching that stuff on film. It is also clear evidence that you are on social media while you are supposed to be working. Even if you film during downtime, there is no way to prove when you filmed it. Anyone can view your content and accuse you of inappropriate use of your work time.
Do interact positively with others
The benefit of social media for medical students is that you can interact with followers and other social media users very easily. This can be both a good and bad thing. On one hand, you can offer commentary and opinions on various topics. If there are posts with misinformation, you can use your clinical knowledge to inform others. You can also learn from others through meaningful conversations and opinion sharing.
However, the internet is also a place for anonymous profiles to say vile things. It’s easy to get caught up in arguing with these profiles or using extreme language to express your disagreements. You always have the option to not say anything. However, if you feel the need to say something, ensure it’s productive and objective. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if you feel someone else’s is wrong. Decide if it’s worth your energy to have a back-and-forth, and if it is, communicate in a way that does not reflect negatively on you.
Don’t disparage fellow healthcare workers
There are millions of posts on the internet disparaging nurses, doctors, PA, NPs, etc. The reality is that when you work in a healthcare team, you will not always agree with the opinions of others. The internet is not the place to express those disagreements. It reflects poorly on you to publically disparage a fellow healthcare worker. Everyone has to work together as a team, so if you are disrespecting their role in the team, this may make you look like a poor team player.
Residencies are scouting medical students who would make good teammates. Non-healthcare workers are also absorbing your content. Therefore, if you speak ill of NPs or PAs, for example, that may negatively impact their perception of those professions when they are vital for the delivery of care.
Unfortunately, there are going to be social media users who disrespect medical students and speak ill of them. As tempting as it can be to rebut, those negative interactions could reflect poorly on you. Avoid it by simply choosing to be the bigger person and saying nothing if you don’t have something nice to say.
Do understand the risks of using the internet
The internet lives forever. This is vital to understand when using social media as a medical student. A funny picture or video here could have detrimental consequences 10 years from now. When you are posting, keep in mind your goals for the next 10-20 years and assess the risk of that post having a negative consequence.
You must balance the desire to share your life with the protection of your future. Make private pages that are friends only. Have others lay eyes on your posts before hitting send. Be mindful that your content can be interpreted in many different ways. So even if you don’t mean something in a certain way, that doesn’t mean someone can’t take it that way. Posts that are consciously positive and clear leave less room for misunderstanding.
Lastly, when sharing your opinion, understand that you are opening a Pandora’s box. Make it clear that your opinions are your own and do not reflect those of your employer. But also understand that sharing extremist views can impact your future opportunities. It’s your platform, so do with it what you will. Just understand that with that freedom comes potential consequences that you may have no navigate.
Don’t share overly-explicit content
When using social media as a medical student, I would advise that you refrain from sharing overly-explicit content. At the end of the day, we are all adults and can choose what language and content to broadcast. However, as a future physician, you are in a unique position. People look up to you and expect a certain level of appropriateness at all times. It’s an unfair expectation, similar to one teachers and lawyers may face.
It may seem unfair, and although the world is becoming more progressive, there is always going to be a more traditional person somewhere who expects you to portray yourself tastefully. Until you are the one in charge and calling the shots, you don’t want a post with sexual overtones or extreme profanity to prevent you from getting there.
Do connect with other professionals
The beauty of using social media as a medical student is that you can connect with people from all over the world. The number of social media friends that I have is amazing. There are people I regularly connect with who I would have otherwise not. Use this opportunity to reach out to your favorite social media content creators who may be able to offer you some career advice. Watch their content so you can learn more about their lives and careers.
In healthcare, there is power in numbers. The more people you can connect with, the larger your professional circle is. You never know when you need to know an orthopedic surgeon or a nurse anesthetist. Social media can help create jobs and non-medical opportunities. Create content with others to help build your platforms. There are so many positive ways you can use social media to propel your career and build community.
Don’t violate the privacy of colleagues
It is common to go viral on social media by sharing personal stories or anecdotes. While this can seem tempting, it’s important that if you are going to share personal information, it needs to be YOUR personal information. Telling the business of your colleagues for no reason other than to gossip is a violation of privacy. It is challenging for people to feel comfortable working with you if they are concerned that you will share their personal information on the internet.
Similarly to sharing stories about patients, ensure that if you are telling a story about a colleague, it is primarily a story about you. De-identify information about your colleagues, and refrain from using derogatory language when speaking about them. It’s your platform and perfectly okay to tell your stories. However, keep in mind that other people have a right to privacy in the workplace and you don’t want to infringe upon that.
Do share correct information
The internet is full of misinformation. Do not be one to add to the misinformation. Although all physicians are tested on the same information, some develop very strong health beliefs, even if they are not true and potentially harmful. The current political nature of the United States can strongly influence these health beliefs as well.
While using social media as a medical student, you inherently have a responsibility to share correct information. By not doing so, you are doing a disservice to the rest of the healthcare field that is actively fighting against misinformation that has significant political, social, and health consequences. If you are unsure of your facts, please look them up before sharing them. Your words have power, and even if you are just guessing, someone will take your words at face value. Use the responsibility of your profession and your platform for good.
Don’t speak ill of patients
Taking care of patients can be a complex job. Although there are many rewards, there can also be a lot of strife when patients are unpleasant or challenging. Going to the internet to vent about these patients is ill-advised. Their behaviors may not be justifiable, but sharing this experience on the internet violates their trust in you as a healthcare provider. It also can demonstrate a lack of empathy on your part as you focus on the undesirable behaviors of that patient, rather than the circumstances that may have gotten them there.
Patients can make poor decisions that hurt physicians. You are not indestructible and hurtful words can leave a lasting impact. You have a right to share some of these experiences, but do it in a way that is not belittling. Use the tips above to maintain their privacy and tell the story in a way that exclusively focuses on you. You share your feelings, the impact that event had on you, and how you will grow from it. This allows you to use the platform to be vulnerable while maintaining the privacy of those around you.
Do be conscious of your representation
When using social media as a medical student, ensuring you are being conscious of your representation or branding is important. What I mean by this, is you need to be very clear that your views are your own and do not reflect those of your employer/institution. Most institutions have a process for speaking to the media or disseminating information. Therefore, if you make content while wearing a badge or logos, or have evidence of where you work in the video, it may seem as if you are speaking on their behalf.
Doxxing is also very common. If you make it known where you work and someone does not like your content, they may attempt to contact your employer which can create professional issues for you. Avoid showing any brands that you do not intend to represent in your content and include disclaimers that your opinions are your own.
Main Takeaways
Social media can be a fun and exciting place. However, in heightened political and social situations, there are always opportunities for there to be professional consequences for your social media activities. Be smart and use good judgment. Also, be prepared to be flexible. If you receive feedback that your social media may be problematic, then edit your social media so it is more palatable. You don’t have to make these concessions forever, but as a medical student, you are in a very vulnerable position, and you don’t want anything to stand in the way of you becoming the physician you want to be.