Your business might be preparing to grow exponentially with the help of social media, but have you thought about the personal, private and non-commercial information you might be posting online? As a break from the business norm, this article takes a look at how YOU should be protecting yourself and your loved ones on social media.
Everyone and anyone has joined at least one of the newer social media sites. Grandparents, pets, and children have either a Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube account. But, do people really know who is viewing the information that they are sharing? Do they understand the consequences of posting just a bit too much?
You can take the initiative by thinking about what personal information you share online. You want your business to join the conversation, but that doesn’t always mean that your personal information needs to be out there, too. People view social media as a way to vent or keep people informed of what they’re doing. But, did you know that people can actually steal your information and impersonate you using a social media site? Many young people post inappropriate pictures or even just vulgar words without thinking of the future repercussion of their actions. Potential employers are increasingly perusing Facebook profiles to help make their decisions. You may be a representation of their company in the future, so you have to be very careful with what you post on these websites, because anyone can view them. What about the younger members of your family? No parent wants to think their child would lie about their age or behavior, but experience tells us that they sometimes do. Don’t feel bad or ashamed that you’re peering into your child’s profile to get the skinny on what they’re doing. You’re trying to protect them. If they have their age set as over 18, ANYONE can see that profile. Make sure they are registered only on appropriate sites and with their actual age.
Social Media was invented as a way to promote business, and to stay connected to friends and family, no matter the distance away. If you want your business to reach every potential customer, then having a social media presence is going to help you do that.
Just remember, keep your personal, non-business information to a minimum – you never know who is watching. If you live a good distance from friends or family, Facebook is a great way to stay in touch. The internet is a vast wasteland of peoples information. Something that you type today may be deleted but it’s never erased.