Posted on Feb 26, 2014
Social Media? Effective communication platform or destructive to the good order and discipline expected of our Soldiers? Thoughts?
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I feel that it become a two-fold product. When it began it was used as a platform to deciminate information, connect with peers and share experiences. Now it had turned into an outlet that has allowed any- and everyone to have a voice/opinion. The times of when certain avenues where control by rules and regulations has now gone into the "gray" area. I would to hear if anyone has conducted a "Social Media" class for an NCOPD. I would love to hear how military leaders are trying to combat this new age issue. I feel that any negative conduct posted or streamlined should be handle by chain of command.
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My thought are that Social Media reveals a person for who they really are. Hence, giving someone limitless ways to express themselves via facebook, instagram, twitter, etc. etc. The new generation Soldiers are coming in thinking they can still behave as they were before joining the ranks. Discipline needs to be instilled and reinforced daily to these young Soldiers.
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It's all how Soldiers choose to use it.
Similar to gun use, some will use them for self-defense and other will use them for crimes.
We have to educate our Soldiers, not just put out guides, on the good order and discipline of social media usage.
Example: Our younger Soldiers are going growing up in a unique environment and parents rarely monitored their children's social media usage...allowing kids to do and say what they lease without consequences. They then join our professional ranks and their mind-sets don't change, just what's expected of them.
Being a social media enthusiast myself, I teach my kids (they are 18 and 16) about responsible usage...I have their login information saved on my smartphone and I verify they are conducting themselves responsibly. When they step over a pre-defined line, I screen capture the message/post, delete it from their account and address it with them.
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