Activity 1: Exploring a platform's strengths and limitations
Using this platform evaluation sheet, let's discuss some common social networking platforms in groups. Use the following questions to guide your considerations:
-
Who owns and operates the platform? Why was the platform created?
-
What is the stated purpose/mission of the platform? What kind of keywords does the platform use to describe itself?
-
Is this platform a commercial or noncommercial entity?: Commercial entities tend to be connected to large data brokerage companies that prioritize monetizing your data over the mission of encouraging scholarly discourse and connection. We recommend working with noncommercial entities, which often have greater privacy security over the data you create on the sites.
-
What audience(s) is the platform trying to reach?: How does the mission of the platform influence the audiences that it prioritizes?
-
What features does this platform prioritize? Scholarly impact? Networking opportunities? Engaging with the scholar firsthand? Something else?
-
What do you see as the platform’s strengths?
-
What are the platform’s limitations?
Activity 2: Reflecting on platforms that work for you
- Self-reflection worksheetThe link will prompt you to "make a copy" of the Google doc. Proceed and create a copy; this will only exist in your personal Google Drive. Use this sheet to reflect on the content we discussed in today's session and consider which platforms might work best for you. If you have questions, we will discuss them at the end of the session.
Considering which platforms work for you
- "Choosing and Using Academic Sharing and Networking Platforms" (Steinhart, 2020)Brief Cornell University Library guide overviewing helpful tips for choosing academic social networking platforms
Protecting yourself as a scholar
- Cornell University Guidelines: Personal Use of Social MediaCornell University provides guidance on how to manage your social media profiles as a Cornell-affiliated scholar. This page offers tips on the basics of managing your presence on social media and other prominent platforms, as well as general guidance for managing online harassment.
- Privacy resources guide (Digital CoLab)From general tips to guidance on managing targeted harassment, this guide from the Digital CoLab overviews resources to manage your digital privacy as a researcher. Reach out to cul-privacy@cornell.edu if you'd like to have a consultation from one our digital privacy specialists.
Additional resources and research guides
- Personal Academic Webpages: How-To's and Tips for a Better Site (Terman, UC-Berkeley)This page gives a brief and helpful overview of the main considerations for developing a site: namely, your purposes and the options available to you.
- Cornell Data ServicesThe Cornell Data Services consults with Cornell researchers on all things research data. Contact them if you have questions about sharing your data or developing a digital communications plan for your human subjects research data.