Listening to Radio5 this morning the call in of the day was entitled something like ‘the Internet ruined by life’… actually what they were focusing on was social media and how people have lost jobs because the photos of the big night out were posted on their profile the day that they called in sick, or pictures on their profiles including pictures of items stolen from the work place – well quite honestly these people are stupid and should know better. There were of course the extreme examples of lives really ruined by social media and the practices of some horrid people targeting and using social media to bully, however, the upshot of the phone in was basically – think about what you post on the Internet.
We have all read the stories and heard the horrors of privacy on Facebook and of stalking on Twitter but as ever I would like to take a balanced view of social media. Without social media we would struggle to do our job, businesses would lose that direct contact with customers and on a personal level I would miss being in touch with friends and family across the globe. However, I would also like to think I have a ‘moderation switch’.
So what is my switch moto ‘if I walked into a room with friends, acquaintances and a smattering of people I don’t know, would I say out loud my status update’? And as far as privacy and people finding out about you and your personal information, bear in mind – its not just Facebook and Twitter where you are actively sharing your information, think about Google – they know your shopping preferences, your health scares, your celebrity stalking tendencies and don’t forget Tesco and that clubcard you use, oh and your bank account with linked debit and credit cards…. you know that argument of identity cards or not – they already know all that information and it is all accessible for the right price.
In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, use social media with some basic moderation rules and you should be just fine… and if things get out of control or you are being bullied report the people that are doing the bullying, there are so many in built tools especially on Facebook and Twitter so use them! And my last comment on the subject, if you don’t want people to know anything about you then don’t use the Internet and work on a cash only basis.
Comments gratefully received on our business Facebook page 
