That Thin Yellow Line

I just received a message in my "in box" warning me of all the bad things that can happen in and throughout "social media." The article was well written, if not a bit alarmist. I cannot help but to feel sorry for people that go through life continually worried about what "might" happen. If someone wants to write bad things about you on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, they will...and you cannot stop them. Even if you or your company don't have an account on a social networking site, they can still say that you or your firm acts like a barrel of monkeys and are incompetent, unworthy of business, etc. I liken it to getting out on the road in your vehicle...what is there to keep that other driver from hitting you other than a painted yellow line...in most cases, nothing! You have to have faith in the ability of other drivers that they value themselves and their health enough not to cross over that line. Similarly individuals and companies that embark on the use of social media websites have to exhibit a similar kind of faith that people won't cross that invisible line into the realm of liable and/or slander. Now, that isn't to say that you just throw caution to the wind (again, you wouldn't do that in your car), so, if you're worried whether someone who you might add as a "FRIEND" on Facebook is going to post something that could be offensive or damaging to you or your business, you might just want to think twice about adding them. If yours is a corporate Twitter or LinkedIn account you will want to be judicious as to whom you allow to post. If you give blanket access to everyone in your office then you run the risk that one or more will display poor judgment ... just be prepared. I guess the bottom line is that if you look at social media there is indeed a tremendous upside in terms of exposure and potential sales...but for every upside there is a downside. And in my opinion, the threat of any downside can be simply maintained and minimized by obeying some simple rules of the Internet road!