Being a regular tweeter and Facebook user I am always amazed at the amount of personal data that people share with their on-line networks and openly on Twitter. It is almost as though social media is an on-line diary and thoughts, feelings and personal plans are shared on-line, often without any consideration as to whether or not it really should be in the public domain. And more importantly who could be reading.
Certainly with younger generations, who are now so used to being on Facebook and Twitter, checking in, sharing photos and up-dating their status several times a day has become a way of life. This is what they do. End of.
My Car, My Sanctuary
You know when you are driving along on your own and start singing along to some of your favourite tunes, thinking that as you are in your car and your own private sanctuary, that no one outside can see you?
Yes, you’re singing your heart out oblivious to outsiders, but sometimes you are seen!
In some ways, what I see on-line makes me wonder if people really think about what they have shared with all and sundry and if they regret it later.
Social media has become so familiar and comfortable that many have fallen into the “Car syndrome” with a false sense of security that it is absolutely OK to share everything with everyone.
It isn’t.
Say What?!
Yet again in the news was another high profile social media regular and MP Diane Abbott sharing an inappropriate tweet on Twitter. I won’t share what I really think about her comment. I guess everyone has different levels of what they feel is personally acceptable to share.
When working with clients brand new to social media, one of their top concerns is that they don’t want to feel exposed, are uncomfortable with the thought of over-sharing, and definitely don’t want the world to know the in’s and out’s of their daily lives. This is totally sensible to me. Even though I love social media and am a big advocate, I also am aware that sometimes people just don’t need to know everything about my life. And probably aren’t that interested either.
Tip No 1 – Create Your Own Social Content List
This is where a social content list is ideal for your social business, your very own guide which includes subjects that are up there to be shared and talked about and those that are definitely out of bounds. Just create a simple list with categories listed one to ten that you talk about and those that you don’t. This can be a part of a business social strategy, especially if there is more than one person representing the business on-line.
From a business perspective I talk about subjects usually related to my work or things I like including social media, marketing, small businesses, blogs, photography and so on. I rarely share my daily activity, my to-do list, who I am off to meet, where I have been and definitely not when I am off abroad on holiday. And personally I am being more mindful about talking about others, I don’t talk about my family or name them.
Tip No 2 – Check your Facebook Settings
Check your Facebook settings regularly. Facebook makes new system changes and when I switched over to the new Timeline my account settings changed with it.
We can all say things that can be mis-interpreted, taken out of context, or could come back to haunt us in later life so it is worth remembering that data is stored somewhere on the web and anyone can read or listen in at any time.
Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security and think you can sing your heart out on Twitter or Facebook as you can in your car. It is an open forum and the world could just be listening in to your dulcet tones, now or in the future.
What do you think have you see things that you feel should remain private, or are you happy to share everything to your hearts content regardless? I would love to hear your views so do comment below.
Related posts:
- New Event Making Sense of Social Media
- The Social Revolution, Can Your Business Afford Not to Join In?
- Need Social Media Mentoring?
- It’s All in the Planning!
- The Social Media Jigsaw
