A sage piece of advice is to draw a line between private and public
We need to decide which parts of our lives online are open and public, and which we want to manage more closely, which will have some degree of privacy.
The web is a public place: Sometimes Twitter and Facebook conversations can feel informal and between friends, but that doesn’t mean they are.
You are always on the record: Even if you are in a “private” space, things you say and do online are permanent and can become public even long after you’ve forgotten them.
Review the privacy settings on your social networks: Online social sites frequently update how privacy settings work - make sure you’re up to date.
Talk your friends and family: Those around you can inadvertently have an impact on your (or your company’s reputation) if they don’t understand the basics of the web. Best to share and discuss how best they can look after their own web shadows.
A sage piece of advice is to understand which side of the private-public line you stand.
We need to decide which parts of our lives online are open and public, and which we want to manage more closely, which will have some degree of privacy.
- The web is a public place: Sometimes Twitter and Facebook conversations can feel informal and between friends, but that doesn’t mean they are.
- You are always on the record: Even if you are in a “private” space, things you say and do online are permanent and can become public even long after you’ve forgotten them.
- Review the privacy settings on your social networks: Online social sites frequently update how privacy settings work - make sure you’re up to date.
- Talk your friends and family: Those around you can inadvertently have an impact on your (or your company’s reputation) if they don’t understand the basics of the web. Best to share and discuss how best they can look after their own web shadows.
NB: This How To is written by
Antony Mayfield and summarises his latest book,
Me and My Web Shadow, published by A&C Black and
available for £6.99 from Amazon UK.