Yes, I am a hypocrite. I do value my privacy but tweet like a fiend. I hate being advertised to, yet I keep a Facebook profile with so much personal data in place they can can sense when I need a new toothbrush and serve me a coupon. However, I have always said I have to keep up with the changing landscape and be a bit of a chameleon, and so I do. I just have to find a balance between giving too much information and not giving enough. Part of my profession is staying involved, trying what’s next, and make sure I participate in all that is popular. Anyone trying to have a web presence for themselves or their company should participate. I’m leaving a digital footprint wherever I go, but I am conscious that I am doing so, and am careful about what gets left behind. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for most.

I have personally witnessed, in real time, someone getting fired over an update on Twitter – from initial “tweet” to this person’s boss creating a Twitter account to indicate disapproval with a response “tweet.” The next morning she was let go. Because this stuff moves so fast, people tend to leap without looking or thinking of the consequences. I have numerous different filters on Facebook in order to maintain my networks, but without tarnishing my image or my company’s reputation since, in a sense, I represent my company on the internet, especially because I clearly state who I work for. I am careful about what I say, how I say it, and to who. Someone is always watching, and search is far more advanced today. I’m leaving a permanent record behind that will not only affect my company’s reputation, but more importantly, my own. It could affect future relationships, job opportunities, and who knows what else. Many HR departments are using social networks to screen candidates.

I think it is important for people, especially students, to understand reputation management. Use the privacy tools provided with many social networks to filter and control what can and cannot be seen by the public eye. When in doubt, don’t put it on the internet. We talk about how much we care about privacy, yet are willing to give out everything about us without question. Perhaps when we’re freely giving it out our information it makes it feel less invasive? Either way, there will be a rise and fall, just as there always is. Hopefully not too many will look back on their digital trail and say “what the heck was I thinking?”

1) Phishing (you mean paypalphish.cn doesn’t belong to PayPal?)
2) Malware & spyware (no stupid comment for this one)
3) Social networking sites (ahem)
4) Photo and video sharing (the GPS tagged kind especially)
5) Histories of Your Web Use (depends what you’re trying to hide, eh?)
6) Targeted advertising and cookies (Snickerdoodles, mmmm)
7) Cloud computing (why not just add Sharing to every folder on your computer?)
Electronic medical data (with the cost/lack of insurance these days especially)
9) Public wi-fi (you might as well strip down and just ask for it)
10) Loyalty Cards from Retail Stores (special note here since many use RFIDs – ummm, duh, Mifair was hacked quite some time ago)
11) Risks at work (they mean surveillance cams, keyloggers and the like)
12) Cellphones (do you REALLY know if your GPS is being transmitted, and when you turn it off, are you sure it is?)