Social Media?

So I had a conversation with someone the other day about .... Social Media. Is it really social? What's appropriate? Should a facebook profile determine your eligibility for employment? these were all discussed.

So is it Social? Yes, kind of. You can sit on your couch and interact with friends and family all over the world. Is it social in the way we defined social in years past no. It's not getting out there face to face but then again when you're talking a five hour time difference or an eight hour plane ride it's social. especially when your alternative  is a letter my snail mail. (Will discuss the death of letter writing another  time)

So what's appropriate behavior for social media? Please, please don't put anything on your website, facebook page, Blog, twitter, that you wouldn't want your mother to see. If you'll be embarrassed about it don't put it out there.

Watch what you say. We all suffer from foot-in-mouth disease from time to time, but please before you hit send at least re-read what you're about to put out there for the world to see. Trust me I've done this before and when I looked back on my angry rant I wasn't happy with what I saw.

Should it determine whether or not you're eligible for employment? well here's the deal, it shouldn't be the only factor. If you are doing something that's illegal and someone (lets face if everyone has a camera nowadays) or yourself decides to post a picture then, you better know someone is going to see it. remember six degrees of separation. It's a small world and I have it on good authority that companies will google you. Chances are someone is friends with you and also knows your boss or boss to be. So play it safe ramp up those privacy settings and take down any unflattering photo's.