Strategic communication professionals perceptions of social media policies in the workplace : a thematic analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine how strategic communication professionals define and engage with social media on a daily basis and how their employers regulations shape their daily social media use. Because they are both proficient in social media and active on social media websites per job responsibility, strategic communication professionals have unique positions within their companies, and often times, special access. Using thematic analysis, this paper examines the responses of 30 semi-structured interviews with strategic communication professionals. Responses reveal that participants definition of social media is not only shaped by their daily habits of social media, but is also impacted by their employer and their job expectations. Results indicate that there is a need for more ethical social media policies in the workplace and that strategic communication professionals must step up and use their experience to address any concern or lack of clarity regarding what they should or should not do.