This week’s theme focuses on Social
Media privacy. Sounds like an oxymoron,
right (think “jumbo shrimp”)? In order
to stay current on events and news, network with friends and colleagues, or
even hunt for a new job, it’s imperative to have at least one social media
account.
Using myself as reference, I have accounts for Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn, Pinterest and GooglePlus.
Managing all of these accounts is a task in itself, but there’s also the
added stress of ensuring each account’s privacy settings meet Pentagon-like
parameters without completely defeating the purpose of being social and fostering engagement. We shouldn't let privacy concerns completely deter us from using social media, but we should ponder some points of caution when using these tools...
- Site Policy
- As cumbersome as it may be, review the security policy of the tool you are using.
- While not all tools opt to sell your information, the tool remains to be a repository of user generated information.
- Understand how they will use your information and how long they will hold it. Even deactivated accounts are still technically available and not deleted.
- Purpose of Tool
- Decide how you want to utilize your social media tool. LinkedIn is typically used for job searching and Facebook for networking with friends.
- Do you need more than one Facebook account – one for personal use and one for colleagues/acquaintances?
- Remember, potential employers will Google you to see if you are good fit and those questionable photos and comments you posted to Facebook or Twitter may not reflect your best side.
- Choose Your Contacts Wisely
- Do you really have 300 friends? Evaluate who you connect with in these tools and how well you know them.
- By posting comments, photos and information to your wall, you could be sharing very personal details with people you aren’t familiar with.
- Be Careful What You Post
- This ties back to the last two points - how much information is too much?
- Posting personal details, vacation plans and checking in to locations opens you up to security and safety risks (Kleinberg, 2014). It’s like inviting thieves into your house while you’re not home.
- Even information you think is private may not be so locked down. For instance, you may not have your birthday displayed in your Facebook profile, but close friends sending you birthday wishes offer easy bait to phishers.
- Set It, But Don’t Forget It
- While it’s important to set account settings for privacy, it’s equally as important to re-check your account settings from time to time to ensure said Pentagon-like parameters still exist.
- Software updates for these tools are rolled out periodically which can alter settings. Additionally several of these tools have been in the news recently for comprises to their privacy policy (Troni, 2012).
Don't let privacy concerns scare you away from using social media. There will always be phishing scams, thieves, etc., but you can set precautions to avoid falling victim to privacy issues. There are perks to using these tools too.
Be aware. Be smart. Be Cautious.
References:
Kleinberg, Scott (January
30, 2014). Don’t Expose Yourself So Much on Social Media. Chicago
Tribune. Retrieved from: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/life/ct-social-media-privacy-20140130,0,6538726.story
Troni, Naomi (April 24,
2012). Social Media Privacy: A Contradiction in Terms? Forbes Magazine. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/onmarketing/2012/04/24/social-media-privacy-a-contradiction-in-terms
"What is Privacy" image sourced from: http://blog.torrentprivacy.com/2012/10/privacy-in-social-media
Hi Tara,
ReplyDeleteI love it that you mentioned checking back to check your privacy settings! I for one have fallen prey to the schemes of social network platforms changing their policies, which then have automatically changed my setting back to their default. I find this absolutely frustrating and irritating, not to mention highly unethical in my view! Luckily, I am hardly on my accounts - I signed up merely to look up businesses pages, etc. - so nothing had been 'leaked' or set free for the world to see, except for a few posts about TV shows, so I got lucky.
Do you think there should be some kind of law or mandate that social network companies would have to abide by that would prohibit them from 'unprotecting' an account holder, after their settings have been set?
Great post!
Dawn
Dawn,
DeleteThanks for your response. I'm only aware of the "Set it, but don't forget it" because I've experienced it. I typically keep my accounts locked down because I'm not a big fan of sharing my status with the general public. I had read something a few years back that advised users to check account settings from time to time. Having been a system administrator myself, I've seen instances where one minor programming change affected other areas that one wouldn't assume would occur. So, my rule of thumb is to re-check them once a quarter.
Regarding your question, I think it is the user's responsibility to manage their accounts. We tend to get complacent with trusting our accounts are hacker-proof. However, I do agree that the social media tool provider should protect users better. A simple reminder notification to users advising them of best practices from time to time is a simple minimal effort on their part. Site policies are good, but have you read Facebook's policy? It make "War & Peace" look like pamphlet. How many users are really reading all that fine print? Even if they are, do they understand what terms they are accepting?
Hi Tara,
DeleteYes, you are definitely right about FB's policy. It's the same with many online accounts. I often wonder if they make them so long and complicated so there are loop holes that the average user would not catch. (It's the skeptic in me, I guess.) It would seem that there would be a 'simplified' version that could be used, which points to the more detailed version for exact specifics.
I have even noticed some pretty long policy agreements for apps, which seems even more sneaky.
I like your idea of checking the privacy settings once per quarter. I may borrow this idea for myself too.
Thanks,
Dawn
I agree about the lengthy Facebook policy. It's almost like the concept of Terms and Conditions. Who honestly reads through all that information before they hit I agree?
DeleteIt is scary to think that social networking sites can easily change their privacy settings without you even knowing. My suggestion is to follow social media blogs in order to stay up-to-date on changes in policies. I subscribe to Hubspot's RSS feed as they always write blog posts when social media companies change policies or have new updates.
Hi Amanda,
DeleteGreat idea!!! Thanks so much for the suggestion. I will do this, because I get so frustrated when I realize after the fact that FB or Twitter have changed their settings. This will be a great way for me to stay ahead of the game.
Thanks again,
Dawn
Thanks for the tip regarding Hubspot. Sounds like a good resource for staying abreast of updates and a good reminder for double-checking account settings.
DeleteHi Tara,
ReplyDeleteI second Dawn! I like how your blog touched upon the basic ways one can make their social media accounts more secure. One of the points I found to be most important from your post is "Set It, But Don't Forget It." While Facebook does do a decent job at notifying their users prior to making any dramatic changes or updates, I still become frustrated when I have to go back in and change my user privacy settings. But it is definitely worth it. As Whittaker stated, "Your account settings are at the heart of your Facebook, and have changed significantly. This guide reflects those major changes, and shows you how to be secure using the world's largest social network. It also helps you manage your data, including a full section on how to manage the applications and games that are connected to your account." (Whittaker, 2011) These tools are very important to be aware of, and to know exactly how to set up.
I also like how you mentioned that future employers will Google you to find out whether or not you'll be a good candidate for their company. When I was a senior at Marist, we had to take an Employment Seminar course. This course touched upon social media and actually showed us how to make our Facebook profiles look more professional, along with showing us how to make our Facebook profiles more difficult to find. The professor even used googling one student in the class as an example, because he photo came up as her holding a champagne bottle. What are some methods you've used to make your social media accounts appear more professional to the public eye?
Great post!
Nicole
Whittaker, Z. (2011, September 4). September 2011: The Definitive Facebook Lockdown Guide. Retrieved from ZDNet website: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/september-2011-the-definitive-facebook-lockdown-guide/12641
Nicole - that's interesting and impressive that Marist took the initiative to educate students on how employment opportunities may be impacted by social media.
DeleteMy company is a very heavy LinkedIn user, however, they also search to see if candidates have Facebook and Twitter accounts. I think we tend to assume those accounts are private, but as I mentioned in my response to Dawn we need to take ownership of managing our security settings and owning how we portray our image. It's too easy to blame Twitter for making you look bad - we make ourselves look bad, and nothing is ever truly deleted. Data is always stored somewhere.
I try to keep my Facebook account limited to friends, family and close acquaintances - I rarely connect with co-workers or colleagues unless I am friends with them outside of work. Some other rules I keep for myself:
- No posts about religion
- No political rants
- No venting about work or personal issues
- Keep it fun and light-hearted
- Don't write it if you wouldn't say it out loud
- Never discuss travel/vacation plans or post while I'm away
Hi Tara,
DeleteI think your rules about what to post are great, and I use very similar guidelines for my posts. I think many of these topics require more in depth and personal discussions, such as in person, in private groups, etc.
I think you hit the head ... keep it fun and light hearted!
Thanks,
Dawn
Ah! Tara, I wish everyone followed those rules you posted.
DeleteAll three of you make some excellent points about keeping your social networks professional. Are there any networks or apps that you refuse to us, for professional or privacy purposes?
Hi Kait,
DeleteI don't use anything that requires my location. I also watch for apps that want to access my contacts and stored data. I even had a game app say it wanted access to my photos, which I definitely denied!
As for networks, I am more of a 'less is more' user. I am using Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. I only started my Pinterest account and Google+ account for this class.
Thanks for the feedback, and check out my blog if you have a chance: http://dmmarkling.blogspot.com
Dawn
Dawn,
DeleteBeware of Pinterest - it's addicting! In the best kind of way, though. I feel like it's easier to protect your privacy on Pinterest; you don't necessarily have to disclose a ton of information to use it.
I agree Kait.
DeleteThe only thing I didn't like about Pinterest was finding out about the 'ownership' of photos that you post in the platform. I am an amateur photographer, and I like to sell my photos at fair and festivals, so if others can use my photos for their own use without me getting the credit, I would rather keep my personal photography to myself. I did post a few of my fun China photos on my account though. I have a personal account that I set up when I set up the class one, but I only use that one for Prince photos ... once a fan, always a fan!!! :)
Dawn
I am just beginning to dabble in Pinterest and like the whole virtual filing cabinet think without having to offer much personal information. Plus, I like how it's integrated with Facebook so that you can share pins with friends and love being able to pin directly from branded websites when I see things I am thinking of purchasing or want to use as an idea starter.
DeleteHI Tara,
DeleteI definitely follow some of the same other rules that you follow. Especially the no venting about personal issues, and keeping all of my posts light-hearted and fun. I also think that pinterest is fun and when integrated with facebook, sharing your boards can be harmless if you follow the same rules. After all, don't post anything that you wouldn't want the world to see right?
Nicole
Tara,
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point by asking, "Do you really have 300 friends?" I know I don't, though I am connected to more than 600 people on Facebook (yikes!). If someone were looking to do a "contacts" cleanse via a tool like Facebook, what criteria would you suggest they use to determine who to stay connected with and who they should "unfriend" for privacy purposes?
Kait
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteKait - That's an excellent question! I think we can apply some of the points from our reading to manage our contact lists. For instance, have goals set in mind. What is the purpose of your Facebook account? It is truly to stay connected to friends and family or to network for opportunities? Perhaps we create multiple Facebook pages - one for personal use, one for professional use. I know many people who've had success with that as well.
ReplyDeleteI keep my contact list pretty tight. One thing close friends and I have done was to create Groups that are closed off to our general contact lists and open by invitation only. We may use those groups to chat about particular topics or as a place to coordinate logistics for dinner plans. It organizes the conversations and keeps it more personal because the group available to post comments is relatively small (less than 10 people).
Nice suggestions (and good use of the reading). Personally, I like to take advantage of Facebook's "list" features to alter privacy settings for certain groups of people. I have lists for coworkers, classmates, acquaintances, etc. You can read more about lists here.
DeleteWhat sort of steps do you take personally to protect your privacy online? Do you manage two Facebook accounts?
I know I'd struggle with two; sometimes I feel myself struggling with balancing my personal Twitter with the one used for this class!
Funny, I've thought about having 2 Facebook accounts, but can barely manage the social media tools I currently use. However, I know people who do manage 2 accounts for professional and personal use and have had a lot of success with it.
DeleteI've been using Facebook more for personal use and LinkedIn for professional use.
Hey Tara, great blog post. I completely agree about needing to evaluate who you connect with. I, myself, I have over 300 friends yet I only really stay in constant contact with about 25 of these people. Some are friends of friends who I may have spoken to once. After this week is over, I will definitely be looking through my followers and removing people who I don't know.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with going back and checking privacy settings. Companies like Facebook are constantly changing the way they handle these settings, and I wish I was more up-to-date with these changes. What do you think the best approach to staying on top of these changes?
Hi Tara - I agree with Amanda that you make a good point about being careful who you connect with on social media. I have over a thousand friends on Facebook, though I certainly do not keep in touch with many of them. Do I really want all of those people seeing what I'm doing all the time?
ReplyDeleteLet's consider other social sites, like Twitter. Many bloggers make their living off of the number of followers we have. I know I've done influencer programs before where we pay healthy amounts for bloggers to post branded content to their large number of followers. Even in this class, we're asked to gather as many followers as possible to our Twitter, Pinterest and blog.
What do you think are some unique guidelines for bloggers specifically that cater to their type of work?
That's a great question. I hadn't thought of the factors professional bloggers might encounter. I am a bit jaded with number of followers or likes to a page. While the impressions and reach are there, I think those follower numbers are not always active or engaged users. Same difference as the number of Facebook friends. Even with several hundred friends, I bet only 10% or so are actively engaging - I find I communicate with the same 50 people or so on a regular basis. I'm not sure how I'd develop a guideline, but would think that bloggers would want users that are more likely to engage and share their work instead of those who are click happy for likes and follows.
DeleteTara,
ReplyDeleteI like your comment about deciding how you want to use a social media channel as a tool. It seems that given the rising popularity of social media, a clear lack of strategy and purpose can lead to complete ineffectiveness and the inability to measure results.
How have you safeguarded your companies/organization's social media accounts and what advice would you give?
Great post.
Isaac
For my organization's social media accounts, I don't manage them but do offer guidance and develop consumer communication. I always try to balance the integrity of our business with the care of our consumers.
DeleteI am also careful when I post about our own brands to reveal that I work for the company. I don't speak on behalf of them, but if I am bragging about a new product or promotion we launched I do state that I work there.
Tara,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I have a little over 400 friends on Facebook, and only keep in touch regularly with about 50 of them. I am very cautious about who I add, especially coworkers. It is not that I don’t trust them, but I’m not sure that I want them having access to personal information and photos that I post. I usually avoid looking at some of my colleagues’ social media accounts for fear of what I may find. There are a few who have posted questionable comments.
My question is, whose job is it to address controversial comments? Is it a colleague, their supervisor or Human Resources? If you saw something controversial posted on a social media account by one of your colleagues, would you report it or ignore? I don’t feel like it is my business to get involved with other people’s personal lives, but then again, if they are damaging the reputation of the College or the department, something should probably be said. It is a tricky situation that can often lead to an uncomfortable conversation with the individual.
Travis
Travis,
DeleteThat's a great question! I think a lot of it is circumstantial; depends on your office dynamic, politics, etc. Though I try and keep my social updates professional, I'd hope that if a colleague thought something was questionable, they'd tell me about it first.
Tara, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts regarding this matter!
Kait
Hi Travis,
DeleteThanks for posting and for posing an excellent questions. I have to agree with Kait's perspective. I try to avoid political or work-related posts. Depending on the circumstance, I would address the post off-line with that colleague. Even if just opening the conversation with a "intense post, maybe those should be avoided because it can result in xyz".
Having gone to Catholic school for all 12 years, we were taught that our uniform represented our school. Meaning, if we engaged in fights or questionable behavior it was a bad reflection on us and on our school. I think I've carried that theory throughout my professional career and can apply that to my use of social media. It all goes back to taking ownership of not only your security, but of your social media image.