By Ishika Roy

In July 2021, Modlingua invited Dr Amit Nagpal to speak about social media and leveraging networks, with Ravi Kumar hosting and interns presenting. My notes from the webinar led me to a useful distinction: a network is not simply a count of connections. What matters is how people communicate and whether they can help one another.

Give a connection a reason to grow

When contacting someone online, a specific question is better than a generic request to connect. Refer to a shared interest, explain what you have read or made, and make it easy for the other person to answer. If they help, acknowledge the help rather than treating the exchange as a shortcut to a job or a project.

The webinar considered how different platforms suit different audiences. A public post can introduce an idea, but a direct message may be better for a detailed question. Before sharing another person's work or story, check whether it is accurate and whether they are comfortable with a wider audience seeing it.

Keep trust ahead of reach

Thoughtful content and genuine replies can make a professional conversation more useful. A large follower count does not promise an opportunity; repeated messages do not create trust. Start with something concrete you can offer or learn, and give people room to decline.

Online networking also calls for care. Check the identity behind a request for money or private details, and move a sensitive discussion to a known channel. The strongest lesson for me was to use social media as a way to begin a relationship, not as a replacement for judgment.

For a related Modlingua discussion, read Social Media Platforms as Collaborative Tools for Language Professionals.