Social media horror stories:
What you share online can come back to haunt you

You’ve seen them, or maybe you’ve sent them: A mean-spirited text message. A way-too-personal
Facebook wall post. A tweet that’s not so sweet. A rude remark in a “reply all” email. Or a picture that
captures someone’s less-than-angelic behavior. Social media is a fun way to connect with the world, yet
forgetting your manners online can turn fun into a nightmare.

So where do you draw the line? What’s OK to share and what isn’t? “Be careful what you say online—
everything is now public,” advises Tamar Weinberg, author of The New Community Rules: Marketing on
the Social Web.

She offers numerous examples of bad judgment, like the worker who added her boss as a friend on
Facebook, then criticized him and whined about her job in a wall post. He read her comment, and fired her
in his reply. Other workers have run into trouble after making negative remarks about their employers in
their blogs or Twitter posts. Do a quick search on the terms “how to tweet your way out of a job” and “the
Internet is not private” to see some worst practices.

If you are new to social media, make sure you understand what happens to a message or image once you
send or post it. Ask yourself before hitting that button: Do I want the world to see this? “If you don’t want
the world to know about it, don’t put it on Facebook,” emphasizes Weinberg. “Even if your mom doesn’t
use Facebook, someone who knows her probably does, and they may tell her if you’ve posted something
inappropriate.”  

“Many newbies to Facebook post private correspondence on wall posts,” Weinberg adds.“It’s important to
understand the difference between private and public correspondence on Facebook — and even Twitter.
Some people accidentally make DMs (direct messages meant for one person) public and it could be
embarrassing.”

“Google doesn’t forget,” says Nick Lucido, author of the blog PR Start and a senior at Michigan State
University. “When you post something on Twitter and later delete it, Google still saves the page.”
Another risky thing to do online is to assume everyone understands your humor, adds Lucido. “This can
be extremely  detrimental. For some people, sarcasm is not easily understood online (and offline, for that
matter), so make sure you are clear with what you’re writing. Make sure you understand your friends and
those in your network—some might think some things you post are funny, while others might not.”

When it comes to pictures, make sure photos display legal actions, Lucido cautions. That means no
pictures of underage drinking or other activities that violate the law or someone else’s privacy.
In general, for all social networks, it’s best to look at what other people are doing first, Weinberg says.
“Study the communities. What are people tweeting about?  What kind of messaging facilities exist? Use
them appropriately.”

Carve Out Your Niche Online

When you’re proficient at using social media, you are in a perfect position to harness it in ways that will
help, not haunt you. Use it to build your career network. The technology gives you the ability to establish
your personal brand and credibility.

Weinberg recommends setting up a LinkedIn profile. “Grow your network among individuals you know
personally,” she says. “If you’re interested in building rapport with people you don’t know and they’re in
your network, send a polite and detailed introduction to the contact-to-be. Let them know who you are and
why you’re interested in pursuing a relationship.”

Sign up and join the online community Brazen Careerist, suggests Lucido. “It’s a collection of bloggers
giving advice to Gen Y.”

“If you use Twitter, add value to your tweets, don’t only broadcast,” says Weinberg. “You should converse
with your followers. Value your friends and followers. Focus on relationships.”

So what else should you keep in mind when you engage in any form of social media?

Be consistent, says Lucido. “You should be authentic online across all your social media profiles, though
it's OK to use them for different reasons. Everything you post does reflect a little about you. Use your
profiles to connect with those in your network and don’t be afraid to show your real personality. Just make
sure what you post is not offensive to those in your network.”

Some students are afraid to connect with professionals online, Lucido notes. Yet this may be a missed
opportunity. “Social networking allows people more opportunity to build a relationship, so take advantage
of the opportunity. However, make sure to follow the advice above and clean up your profile before making
the connection.”

















Social Media Resources

PR 2.0 blog by Brian Solis, briansolis.com
Community and social media blog by Chris Brogan, chrisbrogan.com  
PR Start blog by Nick Lucido, pr-start.com
Life Without Pants blog for millennials by Matt Cheuvront, lifewithoutpants.com
Techipedia blog by Tamar Weinberg, techipedia.com
The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web by Tamar Weinberg, O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2009
Millennials Incorporated by Lisa Orrell, Intelligent Women Publishing, 2008
Brazen Careerist, brazencareerist.com  


This newsletter article was originally published in the Health Enhancement for Lifelong Professional Students (HELPS) Newsletter, University of
South Florida, produced for Wood & Associates, PA (October 2009).
Uh, Maybe That Wasn’t Such a Good Idea…

When you realize you (or a friend) posted something inappropriate, what’s the best way to proceed?

Delete it, bury it, and move on, says author and Internet marketing consultant Tamar Weinberg. “Some
people DM something private and immediately delete it. Some people don’t realize what they’re doing and
need a friend to tell them that it’s not the right way to do things. Just approach them politely and request
that they exercise caution since this information is public. You always need to be very careful when
interacting online.”

Be proactive rather than reactive, Nick Lucido, a senior a Michigan State University studying advertising,
public relations and public administration. “You set the tone on your own Facebook and other social
networking profiles. If you resist the temptation to post inappropriate things on your own wall or on friends’
walls, chances are they will refrain from doing the same.”