In Canada, the majority of the population regularly use at least one social media platform, according to Toronto’s Social Media Lab (see this link to their 2017 State of social media report for more details). Around the world, social media use is growing, with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube becoming increasingly popular.
To reach a large audience, and speak to them directly, it’s important to consider using social media to communicate your science. Though you may currently use it for personal communication, there are many good reasons to consider using it as part of your work. This YouTube video from WebsEdgeEducation outlines some of the benefits of using social media to communicate science. Access the embedded video here, or use this link to view it directly on YouTube.
In addition to the points outlined in the above video, the Deep Carbon Observatory has put together a presentation on using social media for science communication. Reasons they identify for social media use by scientists include:
- increased opportunities for collaboration, self promotion and networking,
- increased public engagement with your science, and
- increased opportunities for awareness (via immediate feedback) of how you are communicating your science.
Click on the image below to see the entire presentation in PDF format:
Hopefully by now, you’re convinced (if you weren’t already) of the benefits of using social media to communicate your science directly to the public. Next, you’ll learn how to maximize your social media efforts, starting with how to plan the best content using social listening and content scheduling.