So, I know most of you have been contacted by people you know and don’t like on one of the social networks. Gotten a friend request on Face Book from the middle school bully or asked to recommend a disgruntled ex-employee on Linked In? Has an ex “stocking” you on MySpace and living their life in “public” in hopes of getting a reaction from you? All of these things are changing the face of relationships. It’s has become an additional layer of ourselves that we need to manage like every other aspect of ourselves. It’s not second nature, but something we need to start considering because it’s amazing how you can track someone’s existence by their actions on one of these sites. Scary but true.
People are not thinking twice about entering personal information and think that the isolated bit of information is harmless. In most cases it is. But it’s the aggregation of that data that becomes dangerous and Face Book is the biggest culprit. It’s easy to see pictures of people even though they didn’t upload any. It is easy to see what people say to each other on their public spaces. People’s taste in movies, books they read, travel destinations are on display for all to see. You even get a posting when a “friend” changes their relationship status. This I’m sure you agree is convenient in the marketing of becoming single again. Amazing. People are now able to live their life as public as some celebrities. I consider Face Book to be the National Enquirer – Friendship Edition. I would imagine this is especially true when you’re from an obscure place in North Dakota where there few people and you actually know your neighbor…but how well do you want to know them? These scenarios I mentioned are all truly the exception to the rule.
Not all contact ends in unhappiness. For example…since joining FB, I’ve attended an elementary school reunion and keep in contact with people that I would have otherwise possibly never seen again. Go St. B’s!!I also keep up-to-date with old college buddies, old friends and old co-workers.The moral of all this blabbing…watch what you put on-line. When all the pieces are put together, you may find yourself too exposed.
