As a newly minted doctor, you're stepping into a public-facing role where safeguarding your privacy and maintaining professional boundaries are crucial. Follow these tips to stay secure and uphold professional standards.

Dos

• De-identify yourself online
   
  • Use a pseudonym or non-identifiable username for personal accounts.
     
  • Avoid sharing personal information like your workplace or location.
     
• Increase privacy settings
   
  • Limit who can see your posts, photos, and personal information.
     
  • Regularly review privacy settings on all platforms.
     
• Conduct an online audit
   
  • Search your name online to see what others can find about you.
     
  • Remove any posts, photos, or tags that may be unprofessional or overly personal.
     
• Be selective about connections
   
  • Think carefully before connecting with colleagues or bosses.
     
  • Maintain a professional tone and content on platforms like LinkedIn.

Don'ts

• Do not connect with patients
   
  • Never accept friend requests or follow patients on social media.
     
  • Keep all patient interactions within professional boundaries.
     
• Avoid sharing sensitive content
   
  • Do not post patient details, even de-identified cases, as it may breach confidentiality.
     
  • Avoid sharing photos or posts from the workplace without explicit permission.
     
• Think before you post
   
  • If you wouldn’t want your boss or a colleague to see it, don’t post it.
     
  • Avoid commenting on contentious topics that could be misconstrued or linked back to your professional role.
     
• Do not use personal social media for professional matters
   
  • Keep work-related communications on official or secured platforms.
     

Key reminder

Your online presence reflects your professionalism. Always think twice before posting or engaging online. Upholding these practices helps you protect your reputation and maintain trust with patients and colleagues.