BLOG POST 1 – Social Media Use at Koto Salo Hanke

 

In this blog, I want to share how social media and digital tools are used at Koto Salo Hanke, a project that helps immigrants settle in Finland. They give support like job search help, CV writing, hygiene passport training, and language support. I joined one of their events, and I saw how important communication and digital tools are in their work.

💻 What kind of tools are used?

At Koto Salo Hanke, they use many digital tools to stay connected and organized:

• Email and Google Meet – for contacting clients and doing meetings online.

• WhatsApp – they use this to remind people about training sessions or events.

• Facebook and Instagram – to share useful information, promote events, and show what they are doing for the community.

• Google Forms – for registration to events or collecting feedback.

• Posters and flyers shared online – for marketing in different languages.

These tools help them manage their work, promote services, and stay in touch with clients.

📢 Formal and informal channels

Some communication is formal, like emails and event invitations. Some is informal, like WhatsApp messages saying "Welcome!" or "Don't forget your hygiene passport training tomorrow 😊". These informal chats make people feel more relaxed and supported.

📜 Social media rules for staff

Even though they are friendly and helpful, they also follow rules, like:

• Don’t post photos of people without permission.

• Use the organization’s account, not personal ones, to post about work.

• Be respectful in all posts.

• Make sure the information is correct and not confusing.

• Follow Finnish privacy laws (like GDPR).

⚠️ Are there risks?

Yes, there are some risks with using social media at work:

• Someone might share personal information by mistake.

• There can be misunderstandings if the language is not clear.

• Staff might be distracted by personal social media during work time.

• If something wrong is posted, it can hurt the project’s good image.

🔁 How social media changed communication at work

Social media has made everything faster and easier. At Koto Salo Hanke:

• Clients can join training or events more easily.

• People feel more connected and welcome.

• Staff can share information quickly, even in different languages.

• It makes the organization more visible and active in the community.

📚 Interesting article I read

"How Social Media is Changing Internal Communication at Work"

Summary:

• The article discusses how social media is reshaping internal communication within organizations.​partnercomm.net

• It highlights that social media can enhance employee engagement, enable real-time interactions, break down silos, promote collaboration, and foster trust and transparency.​partnercomm.net

• The piece also emphasizes the importance of implementing clear policies to mitigate potential risks associated with social media use in the workplace.​

This article aligns with observations at Koto Salo Hanke, where social media is utilized to enhance communication and engagement among staff and clients, while adhering to established guidelines to ensure professionalism and confidentiality.

🌟 Final thoughts

In social work, communication is very important. Social media helps workers stay in touch with clients and support them in many ways. But we also need to be careful and follow the rules. When used well, social media can make the workplace more positive, friendly, and effective.