41 SOCIAL MEDIA

A Global Social Tool or Dilemma?

Abstract

Social media is defined by the Oxford Languages as “websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking” (Social Media, n.d.). Some have suggested that certified behavior analysts stay off these platforms entirely (John S. Bailey, personal communication, September 13, 2018) and others suggested ways certified behavior analysts can engage with social media (O’Leary et al., 2015). I believe exploring social media for what it is, an operant chamber at an unprecedented scale, is the first and foremost discussion required. This chapter will provide a general overview of how social media platforms work, what they sell, and how this may be of use to an individual, organization, and the field of Behavior Analysis. General recommendations and concerns for individual creators, the field, and the global society at large are included with calls for empirical investigation and clarification from content creators operating from the behavior analytic worldview.

Keywords

Social Media

split testing

bucket testing

contextualism

Interbehaviorism

About

Ryan L. O'Donnell

Ryan L. O’Donnell

MS, BCBA

Hey, I’m Ryan. I usually go by Ryan O or RYANO. I’m a digital nomad that hails from northern Nevada in the grungy, yet surprisingly classy, and newly renovated city of Reno. I wake up daily trying to fill the gap between this amazing science of behavior and the billions of people that it could impact for the better. I do this by creating content for behavioral science enthusiasts via The Daily BA and The Controversial Exchange and CHATTcon, while I prepare for my next big venture (TBA in 2020). I am a master of science; that is, I have an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis, however, my interests have grown to include many other areas, from entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, reinforcement learning, social media, podcasting, and vlogging. These interests and skills have allowed me to work with a lot of great people, travel the world a bit, and share it with the world at large. I’ve started three businesses, numerous joint venture agreements, a behavioral think-tank, two podcasts, a professional development movement, and helped organizations that support people with various disabilities. I focus outside this role on building a community of thought leaders and doers to create content that increases the transparency of behavior analytic technologies with the hopes of creating a platform that truly saves the world. In my spare time you can find me consuming social media, prepping/climbing a giant mountain, or walking around with my camera in my hand (and, occasionally, all simultaneously). Connect with me personally on most all social platforms via @TheDailyBA and let me know what drives you to pursue the Behavior Analysis vision.