Do You See What I See?

Best Practices (Part 4)

Yes, we can. As a matter of fact we can see everything you read, view and even those thing to which you have listened. And so can every business contact with whom you have become friends.

This post targets Facebook activity. Specifically the content you view and subsequently share with the view. The content others can and do see. The articles and videos about co-eds gone wild. The songs with inappropriate titles or album graphics. The shared photos with spoofs on inspirational messages, movie themes and as seen on TV gadgets.

Allowing Facebook's many video and article apps to automatically post to your news feed (the place where most of your friends view your content) isn't necessarily the best practice you can undertake if you're trying to maintain a professional online reputation. The applications post to your profile by default. You have to take steps to disallow them from posting to your wall or choose not to sign up.

While the occasional posting of a funny item is humorous and will often earn you likes and comments, a closer look at such behavior by those with whom you already work or those with whom you'd like to do future business might not put you in the best light. Here's just one example:

Will women want to do business with a company if the owner is known to appreciate photos and videos that showcase young women behaving in a promiscuous fashion?

Here's another example. I know a real estate professional who talks business a lot on his personal profile. On that same personal profile he often shares photos of scantily clad women and sometimes adds to these photos by asking his friends to post a caption. While he does have a professional profile, it is obvious this individual has issued friendship requests to individuals that are business acquaintances? How am I sure of that? I'm one of them.

Let's take it just one step further. What if you don't own the company, you're just an employee. How can reading these types of articles or allowing an app to post that you're watching videos on your personal account cause anything negative in your work environment. Are you friends with your supervisor? How about the owner of the company? Now they know you're watching videos during the hours where you're supposed to be engaging in the tasks that fall under your job description.

While allowing something like Spotify or Yahoo! News to automatically post to your personal profile might seem within your rights as an individual it is important to remember the transparency of social media and the Internet in general. If you occasionally enjoy an article on a risque topic that's your choice. Just don't choose to broadcast it automatically to your social profiles.