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February 2, 2006
The Public Record
I think Facebook, My Space and other social networks are wonderful. Communicators need to pay attention to these social networks, because as our youth grow into adults, I am convinced that this is where they will retrieve their news and will continue to share information with friends. We need to be there.
I do have one concern about social networks, and that is that many fine people who either are entering our industry or have been in it for a few years are creating a digital profile of themselves that their employers or prospective employers will see – and they won’t be happy.
Here’s a Facebook excerpt from a recent communications graduate’s profile:
Interests: …dancing around in my underwear and singing at the top of my lungs in an attempt to make [name deleted] laugh her ass off, quesadillas, facebook fantasies, drunken debauchery on the Apple River (I seriously doubt that topless keg stands and making out with [name deleted] was involved in this scenario)….
I’m not passing judgment on this person – casting the first stone would be hypocritical. Many fine party animals have gone on to greatness in this industry. But prior to social networking, employers have never had such a clear window into a prospect’s life. Now, people are unwittingly leaving a digital and permanent trail of their lives online.
BTW, you'll find that I have a profile on Facebook, but if you're going there looking for tales or photos of my college years, forget it. They don't exist (as far as you know).
Posted by Rich Sharp at February 2, 2006 1:45 PM