In recent years as social network platforms have grown, the lines between public and private have becoming increasingly blurred and ambiguous. Story after story has emerged of seemingly misguided individuals whose Facebook, Twitter or Blog updates have cost them a job and worse, permanently ruined reputations.
From teachers finding themselves in hot water for expressing controversial views on Facebook, to prominent sports analysts being fired for racist tweets, the discussion of what is public and private in an online environment is heating up.
More worrying are the changes, which have seen the previous barrier provided by private profiles increasingly under threat. In the most recent developments, employers have overtly questioned the difference between our online profiles and our public selves, with various reports emerging of job seekers being asked by prospective employers for Facebook and Twitter passwords. Job seeker Justin Bassett is just one of the many people to experience this new form of vetting. Bassett, a New York City statistician was shocked when asked by his interviewer for his Facebook login details. In a subsequent interview an AP reporter, he details his refusal to comply with the request, promptly withdrawing his application. The article reports,
“In their efforts to vet applicants, some companies and government agencies are going beyond merely glancing at a person’s social networking profiles and instead asking to log in as the user to have a look around”.
These recent developments had me questioning my own online use and pondering what my own profiles said about me?
As someone who is relatively well versed in social networking and the online platforms that maintain them, I know nothing in the online world is truly “private”. While I choose to maintain a “private” Facebook account, I know that as soon as the disclaimer was signed, everything I choose to disclose is not only available to everyone within my networks, but also owned by the proprietors of Facebook. If a write something that others may perceive as controversial or maybe accidently offend, even if I quickly delete my error, there is no guarantee that several friends within my network have not already re-posted or tweeted said comment or worse made a permanent copy on their desk tops.
With this in mind, I have find myself increasingly writing, deleting and re-writing status up-dates, so as to not only not offend but also present a more polished public image. But should this be necessary on what is intended to be a profile for personal social use? Beyond the clear infringements on freedom of speech this presents, it also proliferates the notion that everything said online SHOULD and CAN be judged and is a permanently aspect of an individuals character.
So how do toe the line and not end up on the public chopping board of judgment or in the unemployment line?
Here are some tips I have developed to help with this necessary but very confusing process.
1) Learn privacy setting. While privacy online can never truly be obtained, a certain level of protection is possible. Facebook is easier than Twitter, but all platforms do have some form of privacy setting to ensure a comment that is meant for one persons, stays that way. (Unless you friend is a traitor.
2) Know you networks. If you are a professional journalists or what would be considered a “public figure” (though again, these lines are blurred) be aware that no matter how you may regard your profile, others may always perceive your blog, twitter, facebook as a professional site. If you want to have a “private profile” make sure it is private (discussed in point 1). Avoid commenting on public feeds, limit those you allow into your networks and make sure really saucy comments are kept in private messages.
3) If you are really well known, maintain a professional profile to ensure you keep you worlds separate. This can go for local figures too. For instance, if you are a schoolteacher being friends with your student (current or former) is risky, as seen in numerous cases where a teacher has forgotten their network and spoken out of tune, only to be reported later by a student’s parent. If you want to keep in touch, again, start a professional page of your old students to posts updates on.
4) Keep track of your online presence. Google yourself every now and then and see what comes up. I was surprised to see how many of my “private” Facebook comments could be found on Google. Just because your profile is private does not mean that all your friend’s profiles are. Comments on public profiles can sometimes slip through the net, since of course online platforms are far from infallible. If you realize a friend has a public profile, begin simply sending private messages as opposed to writing on their walls.
5) Finally, use some common sense. This does not mean censoring yourself but using some restraint. Online networks are not intended to be completely private, in the traditional sense of the word. We are holding conversations and sharing content openly, in front of everyone in our networks. So behaving the way you would if you were alone in your room (even though you may be when typing) is very misguided. Maintain the same “social” aspects of your behavior and if you are not socially inept you should be ok
6) Know your rights. Any employer asking for your login for Facebook, Twitter or any other platform is missing a necessary screw. But for those who are not in the position to turn down paid employment for any reason, make sure you deactivate your accounts before the interview. This way there is nothing to search for and no password to hand over.
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By: Tidal API
No biography available at this time
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