Student Communication via Social Media: Be Heard Without Being Creepy Liz Gross Social Media Strategist Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc.

Adults sometimes have a warped idea of what kids and young adults are into. Consider this scenario: I really want to connect with my kids and the other kids in the neighborhood, but they seem so distant to me. It seems to me that “kids these days” have tree houses. It also seems like many of these same kids like candy. I want to be relevant to my kids and their friends, so I’ll build a tree house in my front yard and put up a “free candy” sign. Then, they’ll totally talk to me. Even better, maybe I’ll start climbing ladders to the neighbor kids’ tree houses and offer them candy and a chat. THAT is a creepy tree house. Image credit: Rollin Stanley, www.montgomeryplanning.com

Creepy Tree House A place, physical or virtual (e.g. online) built by adults with the intention of luring in kids. Source: Jared Stein, 2008: http://jaredstein.org/2008/04/09/defining-creepy-tree-house/

Do you have concerns about being creepy?

How To Be Creepy

How To Be Creepy Create a Facebook department profile (instead of a page) and send unsolicited friend requests to students.

How To Be Creepy Why Is This Creepy? Create a Facebook department profile (instead of a page) and send unsolicited friend requests to students. Why Is This Creepy? Potentially provides the office profile with access to privacy-protected student social media activity.

How To Be Creepy Respond to Facebook posts that weren’t directed to you/your office.

How To Be Creepy Why Is This Creepy? Respond to Facebook posts that weren’t directed to you/your office. Why Is This Creepy? Feels like a violation of private space, even if the post was public.

How To Be Creepy Why Is This Creepy? Tag students in photos and status updates without their permission. Why Is This Creepy? Can catch students off-guard, or reveal images or information they did not intend to share publicly.

How To Be Creepy Discuss private information in public.

How To Be Creepy Why Is This Creepy? Discuss private information in public. Why Is This Creepy? It’s not just creepy, it could potentially violate policy. Can be avoided by using private messages, or moving the conversation off of social media

How To Be Creepy Why Is This Creepy? Require student to interact with you on Facebook or Twitter with their personal accounts. Why Is This Creepy? It takes away the choice for a student to keep their social media profiles private (or have them at all).

How To Be Creepy Why Is This Creepy? Try to talk like a student…when you’re not. Why Is This Creepy? It sends mixed messages about the professionalism of the aid office. Approachability can still be communicated professionally.

What’s sort of creepy, but usually okay?

Seems Creepy But Usually OK Respond to tweets you find through search.

Seems Creepy But Usually OK Respond to tweets you find through search. Why Isn’t This Creepy? Twitter is an extremely public, searchable network. Many brands are doing this now, so users are getting used to it.

Seems Creepy But Usually OK Ask a student or staff member if you can share their story/news on social media and tag them…then do it. Why Isn’t This Creepy? When asked for permission, most students like the positive attention they’ll receive.

Seems Creepy But Usually OK Get information in front of people by paying for it.

Seems Creepy But Usually OK Get information in front of people by paying for it. Why Isn’t This Creepy? Advertising is now ubiquitous on Facebook and Twitter. It’s completely acceptable (although sometimes annoying).

Gray Areas

Gray Areas Follow back all student followers Follow anyone who appears to be a student Send a bandage to a student that complains about getting a paper cut on her acceptance letter (or aid package)

Learn to Embrace the Gray “What is creepy today won’t be creepy in the future. If you’re not being a little creepy (now and then), you aren’t pushing the limits. You’re playing it safe. You’re becoming the noise.” - Todd Sanders Social Media Specialist UW-Green Bay

Walking The Line

Source: www.netbase.com

Source: www.netbase.com

Source: www.netbase.com

“Don’t Be Creepy” Guidelines Always respect an individual’s privacy. Don’t forget that real-word rules & policies apply in social media. Reflect on your intentions; a helping hand is more often accepted than a pushed promotion. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback (from both students and colleagues).

Liz Gross lgross@glhec.org Questions? Liz Gross lgross@glhec.org