ABSTRACT
This chapter clarifies the tensions, challenges, and compromised realities that occur when social media intersect with academia. While social media participation might offer opportunities for scholars to connect with diverse audiences, scholars need to remain vigilant about technology's potential to reinforce existing power structures and norms. Given the potential scholarly benefits of connecting with individuals who might not share the same perspectives or social networks with their, algorithmic filtering may pose a wide array of obstacles to scholars. Relational networked spaces like Twitter rely on a blurring of personal and professional voices and contributions, and yet Salaita's case shows vividly that particularly with regard to controversial and highly volatile issues unfiltered personal perspectives can create very significant professional conflicts. In the social media experiences of faculty members, conundrums and tensions appear between personal connections and professional responsibilities. Research on the topic has only recently started to capture the complex tensions that arise when academics engage in new approaches to scholarship.
