1. Introduction - What is Social Media?
Social media can be defined as user generated content that is
shared over the Internet, and technologies that promote engagement,
sharing, and collaboration.1 The Office of the Privacy
Commissioner of British Columbia utilizes an expansive definition
of social media that "captures a broad range of information
such as social networking sites, blogs, micro-blogging, and file
sharing sites (including photographs and
video)."2
Most of us think of social media as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,
YouTube, blogs, Flickr, Pinterest, and the like. However it is
defined, there is no question that social media has become part of
everyday life for most people. As a result, the majority of
employees today will have some contact with one or more social
media platforms on a daily basis. This may include having a
Facebook or LinkedIn profile, posting comments, videos or pictures
on Twitter, YouTube or Flickr or keeping a personal blog where
