Massage Therapy Canada

Features Practice Technique
MTABC issues guidelines on social media use for RMTs

Twin Design / Shutterstock.com April 22, 2014 – The Massage Therapists’ Association of British Columbia (MTABC) has cautioned its members about the use, and misuse, of social media by massage therapy professionals.

In a statement posted on its website, MTABC communications chair Michael Reoch urged massage therapy professionals to engage in social media responsibly.

April 22, 2014  By Massage Therapy Canada staff


“Social Media has become not only a way to share information amongst
‘friends’ it is a way of life – professional and personal. Without
careful attention to the difference between professional and personal
interaction, social media will blur that line very quickly,” Reoch
stated.

He said social media has become a communication tool for
massage therapists, not only in their personal lives, but also in their
professional circles to exchange ideas and information and market their
RMT business in a cost effective manner.  He added, however, that over
the past years, the association has observed how RMTs are “using and
sometimes misusing social media.”

To assist its RMT members about
the appropriate and responsible use of social media, the MTABC has
consulted with communication experts to develop a guideline for
individuals and clinics to adopt. The association also contracted
experts to develop workbooks to assist massage therapists in
understanding how to engage in social media responsibly. These workbooks
include Personal Use of Social Media, Your Clinics Use of Social Media
and Patient-Therapist Interaction and Social Media.

“As a
professional, how we act and respond is integral to the image we
portray. The old adage ‘you are the company you keep’ is relevant with
our use of social media as a profession,” said Reoch. “For better or for
worse, even if you don’t have a Facebook account or you have never
Tweeted, social media has an impact on you as a professional.”
 
The guideline and workbooks can be found on the MTABC website. Contact MTABC for a hard copy or for non-members who would like to obtain access to the workbooks. (Photo credit: Twin Design/Shutterstock.com)

Advertisement

Print this page

Advertisement

Stories continue below


Related