I have given several presentations on social media to the
student-athletes and coaches at Marist College. The main theme of my
presentation talks about a person’s digital footprint, which includes tweets,
posts, photos, videos, emails, text messages, etc. I am often amazed by the
reaction of both students and adults who have not given much thought to the
fact that what they post can end up hurting their reputation down the line.
Social networking has changed the way we interact with our family,
friends and colleagues. While social networks, like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
FourSquare, and Google+, play a significant role in our lives, they are also a
high risk for security threats (Bishop, 2013). With hundreds of millions of
users, these social networking tools attract not only friends and family
wanting to stay in touch, but they also attract people wanting to know about
your personal life and information for the wrong reasons.
When you use social networking sites, you are posting personal
information to the outside world. Once information is posted online, it’s no
longer private and can easily fall into the wrong hands. Even with the highest
security settings, friends, associates, and even the brands you “like” on your
networking sites, can inadvertently leak information about you (Bishop, 2013).
Listed below are a few tips for keeping your social media accounts safe and making sure that you are following the policies set forth by your company, school or organization:
- Create a strong password that cannot be
guessed
- Use characters and symbols in your
password
- Don’t use birthdates, pin numbers or family member’s names
Become A Gatekeeper
- Know who you are letting into your social
network
- Don’t share personal information with
people you don’t know
- Invisible markers that companies put on
your computer called Cookies track your internet activity
- Websites, apps and games on social
networking sites contain personal information about you
- Click on the “Do Not Track” feature to
keep sites from tracking your activity
- Clear the cache and cookies on your browser regularly
Maintain Privacy
- The world doesn’t need to know everything
you do
- Don’t post telephone numbers, birthdates
or email addresses
- Refrain from posting your location and extended absences from your residence
Be Responsible
- You are responsible for your social media
account
- This includes your posts and what others
post about you on your accounts
- Adjust your privacy settings so that when people tag you it has to be approved before displayed
By examining the training module and reading the materials, I
understand the importance of social media security and that there are people
out there looking for ways to gain access to your personal information. While
we may want to share photos, birthdates, contact information, personal messages
and our travel location to family and friends, it is not a wise practice.
Hackers and identity thieves prey on this information.
I also did not realize the National Labor Relations Board’s involvement
in social media policies and that they have filed numerous complaints against
employers whose social media policies may “reasonably” be read to restrict
employee’s rights to discuss their terms and conditions of their employment
online with co-workers or other third parties (Stevens, 2013).
References
Bishop, E. (2013, November 18) 5 Threats To Your Security When
Using Social Media. All Twitter. Retrieved from
https://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/5-social-media-threats_b51841
Hamer,
S. (2013). Creating and Effective workplace Social Media Policy. Bloomberg Law.
Retrieved from
http://about.bloomberglaw.com/practitioner-contributions/creating-an-effective-workplace-social-media-policy/
Stevens,
A. (2013, October 13). NLRB’S General Counsel Releases New Social Media Report
Containing Much Needed Guidance on Lawful Social Media Policies. Haynes and
Boone Blogs. Retrieved from
http://blogs.haynesboone.com/index.php/2012/06/firm/some/nlrbs-gene…rt-containing-much-needed-guidance-on-lawful-social-media-policies/
Hi Travis,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I loved the cartoon! I too was not aware of the NLRB's part in monitoring and enforcing the guidelines for employers' social media policies. I found this to be very interesting! However, I did not realize that what someone does in their own time, away from work, could be used against them. I understand why certain things cannot be posted, in order to maintain a company's reputation, brand, etc. However, I just never thought about having an employer provide me with guidelines that pertain to my time away from work, and on my personal computer.
How do you, and the rest of the group, feel about this? Is it fair to have an employer tell someone what they can and cannot say online, in their own time, and on their own computer? Or is this a case of employees' rights losing ground due to the expansive audience that the online social networks attract?
Thanks Travis,
Dawn
Dawn,
DeleteGreat question. Personally, I would not post anything that I would not say or do in front of my employer. I feel it all comes back to common sense and responsibility.
However, I was always told that even when you are not at your job you are still a representative of that company so be careful of what you do or what you say.
With my job, I see people in all sort of locations; the grocery store, the bank, the mall and even at local bars and restaurants. I’ll confess, at times I have had a few drinks and sang karaoke and guess who was singing along side of me? One of my customers. Now, was I doing anything wrong, no, neither were they. But as adults we knew our boundaries, were professional and have even spoken about those times at their next service visit with my manager. Could every one do this in their positions, I’m not sure. In the corporate world, this might not be the case.
A few years ago my boss was so against texting at work, he even sent out a memo of how it is taking away form productivity. Now, how do you think we communicate if he is not in eyes sight? Yup, we text. I think that this is just the evolution of how social media has affected every aspect of our lives and is now considered the norm.
Thank you,
Joanna
Hi Joanna,
DeleteI too was always taught we are a continuous representative of our employer. This was engrained in us when I was in the Army. It was continuously, almost daily, stressed upon with us. Although most time was spent in uniform, and it was obvious how we were to act in public, it was a free for all for many when on leave. There were many instances when members would be discharged for conduct unbecoming of a recruit/officer. Also too, while at the Police Department. While it seems almost a given when your job is a uniformed one, that your behavior is a reflection of your employer at all times ... is this perception the same when not in a uniformed job?
We have read about instances where people's actions can lead to firing or disciplinary actions if the employer finds out, but is it less risky and less likely to unfold if you are not in a uniform or high visibility position such as politics or fame?
Thanks,
Dawn
I feel that we now live in an age where anything that we do, even if it is outside of work, can be used against us. I agree with both of you that we have to use common sense about what we post on our social media accounts. I see so many things posted from others that make me cringe. My first thought is, “What are they thinking?” I also, feel however, that we are becoming robots. I was just saying to someone yesterday that you are unable to have an opinion or belief because you could be crucified in the court of public opinion for your thoughts or ideas.
DeleteI am also saddened by the fact that it is becoming harder and harder to be yourself. Like Joanna mentioned, if I want to go out to a bar, have a few drinks and sing karaoke, I should not have to worry about someone taping it and posting it to Facebook or Twitter. Unfortunately, that is the world we now live in. Having fun is becoming harder and harder in today’s world of political correctness. That’s why, at the end of the day, when I speak to the students about social media, I often remind myself that they are 18-21. They are not perfect, and college is meant to be a learning experience.
My fear is that we have entered a realm when you have to be “on” 24/7. Unfortunately, you cannot let your guard down, you cannot be yourself and you cannot have a good time in the public eye for fear that someone is going to expose you on social media.
Travis,
DeleteI think you said it best ... "you have to be 'on' 24/7." It's almost as if everyone is a celebrity today, to some extent. Social media can be used for anything. I have a Mazie's Top 10 listing on my blog, and one of the lists for this week includes the Top 10 Social Media Gaffes. They list the top ways social media is being used for legal, employment, and PR related events.
I guess those who use social media today know what it's like to have paparazzi following them all around. I can relate a little better to some of the celebrity concerns and complaints better after seeing how social media is being used today.
Thanks for the feedback, and check out that list when you have a moment ... it really shed some light on things.
Dawn
Excellent post Travis! I especially echo your perspective on maintaining privacy and being responsible. As I mentioned in some of my other posts, I feel that as end users we have to take ownership of understanding, checking and re-checking our security settings. It's too easy to be complacent with what we think these sites are maintaining.
DeleteRegarding privacy, you hit the nail on the head. We do not need to reveal every aspect of our lives, however, so many users do. When I think of my posting activity on social media sites, I try to preface my post with thinking if what I'm about to write/post will haunt me later? If that thought makes me pause, it's probably not a good idea to post it. It's easy to blame social media tools for making us look bad when really, we do it to ourselves.
Travis,
ReplyDeleteGreat post and layout. Visually the post is very inviting and the points you mention in your checklist are clear and touch on the main points. The iPhone graphic is perfect for this blog; it is a definite attention grabber. Great cartoon.
I know last week you and I spoke about the importance of our digital footprint. Since then, I asked a few people at work if they knew their digital footprint and they had no idea what it even was. So I told them to Google themselves, they did, and were surprised by the results.
I have not tried this experiment, but someone told me that websites, like Expedia or Travelocity, monitor if you are using a PC or a Mac computer and if you are using a Mac, you can expect to pay a slightly higher price. Have you heard of this or experienced this first hand?
As I noted in Dawn’s post, we all need to take responsibility and utilize common sense when it comes to the web. We should all know the difference between right and wrong and know that some things just do not belong on social media platforms.
With the statistics of 75% of employees accessing social media at work along with the changing dynamic and integration of social media in the work place, do you think it is possible to find that “balance”? If so, how would you implement it to make it a win-win situation?
Great post.
Thank you,
Joanna
Joanna,
DeleteThanks for the post. I had not previously heard of Mac users paying higher prices on travel websites. I did some research and found a great article detailing the accusations. Orbitz engineers said they were experimenting with predictive analytics based on users' computers, which resulted in Mac users being served up a different set of results – often with a bigger price tag (Simon, 2012). Rival travel sites Expedia, Priceline and Travelocity capitalized on consumer’s anger and insist that they don't use similar algorithms based on what type of computer their customers employ. It is scary to think that this could be happening.
In regards to social media in the workplace, I think in most cases it is important that employees utilize social media to promote their business. It all depends on the position. A bank teller, retail associate, or grocery store clerk has no need to access social media while performing their job. If a retail associate is on their cell phone checking Facebook or Twitter, that looks bad to the customers. Marketers, small business owners and public relations professionals should utilize social media to its fullest in order to promote their business or product. As you mention, it is important to find a balance. That is up to a good manager to ensure that the job is being done effectively and that the employee’s social media use is not all personal. Having an effective social media policy detailing guidelines is important.
References
Simon, M. (2012, July 2). Is Orbitz steering Mac users toward pricier hotels? CNN.com. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/26/tech/web/orbitz-mac-users/
Hey Travis,
ReplyDeleteWe have spent a lot of time talking about the "Do's and Don'ts" of social media. I think it is fair to say that if you are in this course you have some type of understanding of these platforms. My question for you is, do you think young people should have a Facebook or Twitter? Lets define young as 10-12 range.
I personally fear that young people are creating a record of behavior at a young age online that could hurt them in the future. What are your thoughts?
Dan,
DeleteIt is a great question that your raise and I’m not sure what age is appropriate for children to begin using social media. I think it depends a lot on the parents and the education that they are giving their children. I personally do not feel that young people under the age of 12 should have a Facebook or Twitter account. I think that there is an appropriate age when social media should come into play. I see so many parents hand their son or daughter an iPad to keep them busy. Don’t get me wrong, technology is great, but it cannot dominate a young person’s life. The problem is that as technology and social media continues to grow, how do you prevent your children from utilizing it?
I think the topic that we are all discussing this week on security is very scary, especially when it concerns young people. I do not believe that children have the proper education and awareness to protect themselves online. Who are they letting into their social networks? What information are they posting for potential stalkers to see? It is a very interesting topic that I am sure all of us will face at some point in our lives and I am not sure what the correct answer is.
Travis
Hi Travis,
ReplyDeleteI liked your post because it was very easy to read and you incorporated a fun little comic. Social networking can pose a lot of security risks but if used correctly, social networking can do a lot to benefit a persona and organization. I believe Daniel brings up a great question, what can we define as "too young" to be on Facebook and Social Media. How do we know that these generations are using these accounts wisely and not abusing them by over sharing information? What could be the best way to educate this generation about using social media wisely before it's too late?
One of the tips for Social Networking Safety by Microsoft is "Don't trust that a message is really from who it says it's from. Hackers can break into accounts and send messages that look like they're from your friends, but aren't. If you suspect that a message is fraudulent, use an alternate method to contact your friend to find out. This includes invitations to join new social networks." (11 Tips, 2014) Adults may have a higher intuition that a message from a random friend may seem weird or out of context, but if you're letting your 10 year old on Facebook, they may not pick up on this and communicate with strangers.
Great Post!
Nicole
11 tips for social networking safety. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2014, from Microsoft website: http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/social-networking.aspx
Thanks Nicole!
DeleteI’m not sure if there is a correct answer as to what age children should be permitted to use social media. I agree that young people do not have the ability to decipher if they are being deceived by a hacker or if they are oversharing information. Plenty of adults do that now, so it may not be realistic to expect a young child to have that ability.
We were taught at a young age to never talk to strangers. The question is, are children being educated at school and by their parents about social media and online communication? As the world and technology have changed, we must also change the way that we educate our children. I do not think that it would be a bad idea for schools to teach an educational course detailing communication, which includes text messaging, social media, emails, etc. If young people are taught the pros and cons early, it will prepare them to communicate effectively as they mature.
Travis
Hi Travis,
DeleteI agree, and I've found that this topic has been brought up in more than just your blog post. I'm not sure how kids today are being educated on proper use of social media applications, or if they're being educated on using social media at all. We're taking this course at a college graduate level, but I think a similar course could be extremely effective in middle school, or even as a part of a marketing course in high school.
Nicole