A blog entry by Jeff Cole, PR 101 Lesson #106 It Doesn’t Matter What You Were Told In Kindergarten – Sharing Is Not Always A Good Thing ( http://www.pr101.biz/pr-101-lesson-106-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-matter-what-you-were-told-in-kindergarten-sharing-is-not-always-a-good-thing/ ) made me think about the advice I was given some time back when I started my foray into the world of Social Media: "don't drink and tweet."
It sounds deceptively simple and yet it is rather profound. When you create content on the social web, or on the web in general, people will find it/see it, regardless of whether you think it is shielded or not. The word "content" by the way, describes everything from a 140-character tweet, or a comment on a website, to a blog entry, to a picture or video you post.
In light of the above therefore, it only makes sense to employ common sense rules.
The way I usually describe the decision point when I am sharing my experiences goes something like this -- if you could stomach seeing your content on the front page of the newspaper or on the 6 o'clock newscast, if you wouldn't mind your content discovered by your mother/spouse/friends/boss, then go ahead and click 'OK', or hit 'Enter'. If you feel you can defend it, you are in the clear.
If you find yourself hesitating however, then you ought to rethink the wisdom of creating this content.
As Jeff points out, "Here’s the first thing that we all should remember – social media doesn’t kill careers, people using social media kill careers." If you want proof, you might want to check this link: Rep. Anthony Weiner Resigns ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/anthony-weiner-to-resign-thursday/2011/06/16/AGrPONXH_story.html?wpisrc=al_national)
Just keep this in mind therefore and think before you click.
It sounds deceptively simple and yet it is rather profound. When you create content on the social web, or on the web in general, people will find it/see it, regardless of whether you think it is shielded or not. The word "content" by the way, describes everything from a 140-character tweet, or a comment on a website, to a blog entry, to a picture or video you post.
In light of the above therefore, it only makes sense to employ common sense rules.
The way I usually describe the decision point when I am sharing my experiences goes something like this -- if you could stomach seeing your content on the front page of the newspaper or on the 6 o'clock newscast, if you wouldn't mind your content discovered by your mother/spouse/friends/boss, then go ahead and click 'OK', or hit 'Enter'. If you feel you can defend it, you are in the clear.
If you find yourself hesitating however, then you ought to rethink the wisdom of creating this content.
As Jeff points out, "Here’s the first thing that we all should remember – social media doesn’t kill careers, people using social media kill careers." If you want proof, you might want to check this link: Rep. Anthony Weiner Resigns ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/anthony-weiner-to-resign-thursday/2011/06/16/AGrPONXH_story.html?wpisrc=al_national)
Just keep this in mind therefore and think before you click.
Quite true, John! There's no such thing as a 'secret' once you decide to 'whisper' it to somebody's electronic ear. Common sense, what the old Greek proverb describes as "dipping your tongue in your brain", should be rule #1.
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