Many writers will tell you that marketing and PR have become a large part of their working role in today's publishing world. More often than not publishing houses are sharing the responsibility for building audiences and connecting with fan bases. Gone are the days that we can safely anticipate a huge marketing effort on our behalves. As such many are turning to social networking platforms to connect with others, in hope of increasing their exposure, finding relevant or interesting content and establishing our contacts.
Of course this isn't a concept which is restricted to writers, the world of social networking has entered the majority of homes and business arenas around the globe to such an extent that it takes an active role in many of our daily lives. Whether it is to stay in touch with family, reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, or within a networking or marketing capacity for business, many look to social media as an everyday means of connecting.
Indeed it has a positive role to play, just as radio and tv has found it's global platform, bringing news and media from around the world to our doorstep, the labrynth of social networking platforms have stepped forward and changed the whole playing field. Suddenly we are no longer marketing to a faceless audience, but instead collating profile data to give us a greater insight into our target audience. People we once lost touch with as they emigrated half way around the globe are now a stroke of a key away, a click of a camera, or even better still, a web cam's length away as we sit and chat over coffee.
The Need For Internet Safety Is No New Concept ...
On the other hand most of us are fairly mindful of the fact that our children are vulnerable to predators online, many checking the accounts of their offspring regularly to make sure they truly know the identity of their contact list, and that content is appropriate. Likewise those in the market for a job might understand that their social network profiles could be searched for scrutiny by prospective employers, and therefore take care not to be caught on camera dancing on the boss's desk drunk on a friday lunch time.... but do we ever really take into account the damage which might be done when networking goes wrong ?
We have all been witness to the cringe-worthy status updates of friends or acquaintances, but when those updates directly involve you, the virtual hell you have read about online, and in the media, can quite suddenly and inexplicably become your reality. These days we have more contact with those around us (or not around us) than we have ever naturally maintained in the past. The reality is that where time might have been allowed to pass between individuals before contact again, that space and privacy is lost and impinged upon. This can place an unnatural strain on relationships. Equally, due to the ease at which we can post status updates, post photos, and share information online, despite safeguarding our privacy settings we still may be prone to exposing more about ourselves and our private lives than we normally would.You wouldn't usually post a notice at the corner shop to tell the neighbours that you are out at a show for the next 4 hours, or away on holiday for 2 weeks...
Still we often think nothing of telling our world online about where we are, what we are doing, and who we are with, with photos to prove it. Likewise other instances of over exposure include passive agressive remarks made amongst friends and family in status updates, or judgements made of another's behaviours or beliefs. Those of us who have participated regularly in social networking are more than aware of the number of people we interact with who can share horror stories of internet trolls, and the ways in which apparently complete strangers can make our lives miserable, leaving us cautious and even afraid at times. Reflecting on those instances we might be able to identify how we came to our let our guards down, taking a little less caution as a sense of familiarity with other users follows. However it is not just the online stranger who has the potential to make social media something of a living nightmare if they care to do so. It can be people we know in our real lives, examples of many a fall-out unfolding on facebook or direct message systems and various platforms.Social Media is a positive thing...
it connects people, and is an opportunty to build our networks phenomenally. However, just as we need to do so in society, we need to act responsibly, taking ownership of our content and updates, and ensuring that it not only protects ourselves, but does not impact others negatively. That is not to say that we can't challenge ideas, write creatively, offer contrasting opinions, but just as we cannot expect to stand in a crowd and shout out offensive messages without some consequence or reprisal, why should we expect to do so to a potential audience of millions online? Owning our online content is not just about protecting our rights as author or provider, it's not unfair to ask that we also own our online behaviour and the potential consequences of the things we post.
