Leveraging New Media as Social Capital for Diversity Officers

Abstract

Technology has fundamentally changed our lives by bringing us closer together and connecting us in ways that make the world seem smaller. As higher education diversity professionals step into the foray of social marketing and continue to enhance their presence, it becomes even more important that they understand how to leverage important messages of equity, diversity, and inclusion in ways that promote an inclusive society and foster global equality. In order to carry out effective social media campaigns surrounding EDI issues, it is necessary to foster activity online and offline. This chapter is a guide for EDI professionals on how to use social media to foster equality. It includes a discussion on the Internet and the evolution of social media, review of new media technologies alongside emerging trends, and highlights why social marketing messages are important for diversity professionals. It also proposes a framework for understanding social media marketing, by providing tips, recommendations, and examples showcasing how to use social media to advance social justice.