In August 2021, the General Optical Council (GOC) suspended a student optometrist for six months for posting a series of discriminatory statements and swearing on social media. Noting that the student had deleted his account, that there was no evidence that the behaviour had been repeated, and taking into account his age, career stage, developing insight and references, the GOC Fitness to Practise (FtP) Committee said a suspension longer than six months was disproportionate.

There are multiple risks to optometrists – as for other clinical professionals – in using social media. As the College’s guidance on online behaviour states: “Social media sites can blur the boundary between professional and personal life, and comments that you publish in a personal capacity may become accessible by a much wider audience.”