Today, Emma Sadeir came to talk to us about social media. Social media is a part of our everyday lives, weather we want it to be or not. How do we distinguish between what we do as an employee and what we do as a person, in our private capacity? At the end of the day, privacy is dead. Here are a few key take-aways of what I learned from her. This information will help empower you to make better decisions online.
Want to go on a digital detox over the weekend?
Put your phone on grey scale and see how much less you will want to interact with it. You’re welcome.
Always remember that your freedom of speech cannot infringe on someone else’s freedom to privacy, freedom of religion etc. One person’s rights do not over-rule another’s in the eye of the law.
When talking about a company online. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Don’t bring your organisation or the industry into disrepute. There are governing boards who will act against you for running down the industry you work in and causing reputational damage.
Do not think you are protected if you’re ranting about someone but do not mention them by name. If you make an indirect reference but everyone knows who you are talking about, that’s a crime and you can be prosecuted. It’s defamation of character.
When you share information online, you are part of the chain of publication. A judge will see it as though you wrote those words because you are sharing them. If someone tags you in a post that contains hate speech etc. If you do not un-tag yourself and delete the post, you are complicit. You have a responsibility to disassociate yourself with content you do not agree with.
There’s no such thing as privacy anymore. If you have a LinkedIn profile detailing where you work, you are a mini spokesperson for the company. Anything you say or do can cause reputational damage to the company in question.
Everyone is entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy. However, the more you share online, the less right to privacy you have. You have set that standard.
You can record any conversation that you’re a party too, without consent. What you do with that information is a different story.
Always remember, when you share content online you lose context, tone and control of your audience.
Insurance companies are starting to turn down claims because someone posts a pic saying ‘In CT for the weekend’ so people break into the house as they know it’s unoccupied. Insurance companies are working with network providers and if they can prove that you were on your phone at the time of the accident, they’re refusing to pay your claim.
Final tip, never touch your phone when you are emotional.
