Comments on: Privacy in Social Media

By: Callan

Callan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:39:12 +0000

Hi Micah,

Thanks for your comments! So true – Facebook privacy options are pretty much the best thing since sliced bread. Certainly helps manage the distinction between private/professional.

By: Micah Smurthwaite

Micah Smurthwaite — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:30:38 +0000

Great insight to an increasingly challenging dilemma. As a person in their late twenties, the delineation between professional and personal contacts during the last decade has become opaque. The intuition required to thrive among the chaos requires censorship without alienation.

Some reserve professional contacts for networks like linkedin and personal contacts for the facebooks of the world. However, this double life can create a barrage of questions on one’s character, not to mention badwill for those professional contacts who don’t get asked to sit at the “cool kids” lunch table via a fb friend request. Thankfully, the evolution of privacy options in social media helps us navigate these sensitive issues with grace and delicacy.

By: Callan

Callan — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:01:03 +0000

Hi Amanda,

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I had a similar experience with both my parents and my grandparents. Social media may not be for everyone, but I think once people understand the distinction between what you share and what you keep private, they feel a little more comfortable with the medium.

Thanks for reading!
-Callan

By: Amanda Smith

Amanda Smith — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:50:50 +0000

Last week my baby boomer and self proclaimed prudish father called me with a pressing question. “What the hell is Twitter?” He asked in a mildly distressed tone. As I struggled to explain social media to my Dad I could almost hear him cringing through the phone. He was shocked that there existed such an open forum for individuals to share their lives and for companies interact so personally with consumers. “What happened to a little privacy” he asked.

I argued the pros of a the new social media generation. By creating a personal persona, companies have the opportunity to form an authentic bond with consumers, and for those consumers to have a real say what they want from their companies, the details of products and more. What’s more, since this whole conversation takes place in a public arena we’re all privy to the interaction, and become more aware and potentially happier consumers.

I don’t anticipate Dad friend requesting me on Facebook anytime soon, but I think he understood some of the merits of at least partially full disclosure in social media, and how the fall of privacy may create greater companies and more informed consumers.

By: Callan

Callan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:36:56 +0000

Thanks Dave. Agreed, this is one of those things that there is no right answer because you have to do whatever you personally are comfortable with.

And thanks Natalie! I struggle too, especially since I was a freshman in college when I first got on Facebook. It is hard to shift your social networks to a more professional tone when you are used to conversing casually on them all the time. Mostly I just try and limit myself from the embarrassing “over-shares” and figure everything else is all OK in moderation.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:29:55 +0000

This is a great post! I struggle too about being too political personally because what if someone connects me to my brand and thinks my brand is saying that, etc. etc. It is a balance

I will never tweet/blog specifically about driving because I work for a public transit company. I think is expected that I drive, as most people do, but it is a branding thing.

P.S. I think you meant 50,000?

By: Dave Taylor

Dave Taylor — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:09:12 +0000

Nice piece, Callan. You’re right that it’s important to find that balance, and just as important, to find that balance FOR YOU. Everyone’s different, some people are adamantly offline while others are awkwardly, embarrassingly TOO public (for me, at least).