Monday, December 13, 2010

Rules of Using Social Media and Staying Employed


Having worked in social media for a large, conservative corporation, mixing work and play was inevitable, and initially terrifying.  It didn’t take long to make the leap to friend and follow coworkers, and I’ve quite enjoyed combining personal and work worlds in a single network. My self-imposed rules of the road have managed to keep me employed…for now. For what they’re worth, here you go:

  • Be the friend-ee, not the friend-er: In theory, coworkers can’t be mad or offended when they ask for an opening into your personal life. That doesn’t mean you have to accept them all and certainly doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t…
  • Love your privacy settings: Limited profiles and friend groups allow you (without having to do something dumb like use First Name, Middle Name nomenclature) to do things like hide beer pong and pole dancing photos from select groups of people …Not that I know from experience…That said…
  • Keep it PG-13: Technically, Facebook does not allow users under the age of 13.  And if ABC Family gets to air Secret Life of The American Teen, I get to use a few four-letter words and talk about drinking. It’s just science, and helps keep reigns on offensive content. And when mockery and offending is necessary…
  • Discriminate indiscriminately: No one can take it personally if you make it a goal to offend everyone.  And no one can argue with witty digs on stupid people who deserve it. But remember to...
  • Discriminate against yourself the most: Everyone appreciates a little self-deprecation, and you only have yourself to offend. But when you must rip on people you work with…
  • Attack your boss to their face: The walls of social media are like cube walls, not offices. For any coworker really, if you wouldn’t say it to their face, don’t say it at all, even if you’re not connected via social networks.  For example, I tell @KellyThul how much I loathe him on Twitter and Facebook directly, because talking behind people’s back is just rude.  Under these circumstances, however, it becomes very important to…
  • Know when to shut up: I haven’t learned this yet, but I understand the concept—If you question whether or not to say it, don’t.  Also, if you have the urge to share super-secret business information, or boring confidential/proprietary material you should 1) Not and 2) Get a life.

Easy enough, right?

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