I saw this video at a social media seminar I attended a while back and I found it to be very interesting.
It raises the question is Facebook and other social media sites a friend or foe?
For me the answer is it depends. Jeff and I were in a car accident years ago in which Jeff suffered injuries that has impacted his health and his daily activities. He had a lawsuit against the driver's insurance company that finally settled in arbitration last week. The lawyers for the insurance company based 75% of their defense on his facebook page. For those who are Facebook friends with Jeff knows most of his comments or posts are based on sports, quotes from TV/movies or sarcasm only friends or co-workers would understand. The lawyers tried using these against him to paint him as a low life who sponges off of society which was completely absurd. Luckily for him, their attempt to twist and take everything on facebook literally worked in his favor.
Jeff's situation is not uncommon. In fact, employers both present and future are looking at Facebook pages and other social media sites to give them insight on a possible candidate or help in the termination of an employee. Is it legal? I am not sure because I am not a lawyer but there are strong argument for both sides of the coin.
One of my best friends made a great point and I follow it when I post on Facebook or on this blog, she judges everything she posts based on whether or not she would want her grandma or boss reading it. If the answer is no, then she doesn't write it. Some may agrue that they have a freedom of speech and can say whatever they want but in the end, people's perception may not be the message you were intending to get across. Look how many celebrities/policians have to issue public apologies over backlash they receive about a posting twitter comment that some groups perceive as offensive.
So I leave you with this question: Social media- your Friend or Foe?
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