Being a social media expert? Disclosure as a best or worst policy
A few months ago, I wrote about the issue of being immersed in a world of self-professed (or self-appointed) authorities. In that post, I wrote
Since ANYONE can post ANYTHING online, it now seems as though EVERYONE is an expert in something. Some people are experts at appearing to be experts at something.
Let’s consider what I have done in just one of the sub-fields in which I do research on (wastewater management and policy), just for illustration purposes. I wrote a 135 pages, single-spaced book on wastewater governance and policy in Mexico. I conducted field research for the project for two years. I interviewed over 70 people, my transcripts reached over 4000 pages, and I collected hundreds of documents. To create the theoretical framework of the project, I read over 300 journal articles about water (although, I should say that a vast minority dealt with the social aspects of wastewater management). I have published six peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and given over 15 talks about various aspects of this project (none of them, actually, has been a recycled version, so all talks have been original).
Furthermore, I sit on editorial boards of journals and frequently conduct peer-reviews of books, book chapters and journal articles, all focused on water. Does all my background make me an expert in the social science of wastewater governance? Some scholars would probably argue that yes. However, I never say “I’m an expert in wastewater policy“… all I say is “I specialize in wastewater governance“.
While my academic credentials and production help me feel more confident about being called an expert in environmental issues, I am sometimes reluctant to be called a “social media expert”. I know MANY people who know much more about social media than I do. I am not sure they call themselves experts either. Simply because, as I mentioned before, social media is such a fluid and dynamic issue area that I don’t even think anybody can fully grasp it. Yes, I do blog. Yes, I am very good at social networking. Yes, I have some understanding of the technology and how to put it to good use to create online communities and disseminate knowledge over the Internet. Does that make me a social media expert? Hardly, I believe.
I am interested and excited and passionate about social media. If I find a good project that calls for the implementation of a social media strategy in a sustainability/environmental area, I would say “sure, I’ll help”. But I’m more likely to offer insight and impart my knowledge on the topics that I feel most comfortable talking about. Would I be excited about examining and investigating how social media can be used to enhance local decision-making about how we manage our water? For sure. Would I be able to combine both my expertise in water governance and social media? ABSOLUTELY. Would I call on external help to implement said strategy? FOR SURE.
THAT, I think, is what makes social media so appealing to me. I feel as though I can call upon many of my social media/tech/PR friends and ask for help (obviously, if the project offers payment, the payment is also relayed to them as well!). Being able to speak the social media language AND use my technical expertise in environmental issues is what makes me, I think, rather unique professionally speaking.
That’s why I asked the question – is disclosing that we aren’t experts a good or bad practice? What do you all think?.
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