If you follow any celebrities on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve
probably seen a million “selfies” by now, some of which I’m sure you’d prefer
to forget. Anyone see the naked Geraldo Rivera selfie last month?
According to People magazine, Rivera’s motivation for the
naked selfie was that he wanted to show the world he’s as fit as ever. (Seems
innocent enough, but in the 24/7 news cycle we live in, probably not the best
idea.) Internet chatter began immediately after the naked selfie was posted.
Some were supportive, others were not. In fact, according to People magazine,
Rivera’s own daughter texted her dad and told him to take the picture down. He didn’t take it down, though, until his
employer (FOX News) demanded it be removed.
So, as PR professionals, what can we learn from Rivera’s naked selfie debacle? For
me, the biggest lesson is that, like Rivera, I cannot separate my personal self from my
professional self online.We all probably learned this lesson years ago
when we started receiving Facebook friend requests from colleagues and reporters. While I find great value in connecting with reporters on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, I also know that it would be difficult for a reporter to take my next pitch seriously if they saw me posting silly or scantily clad selfies on a regular basis.
As PR professionals, we know the risks involved in saying too much. In fact, we coach and advise our clients about it all the time. Now it’s time to coach our clients and ourselves about sharing too much.
So, what should we and our clients do to prevent oversharing on social media? I've got a few tips. Keep in mind that none of this is new information, but in light of Rivera's situation and the ongoing saga involving Anthony Weiner, I think it bears repeating.
First, as Rivera has proven, it's not wise to drink and tweet or use any form of social media when you have been drinking. The same rule applies to when you’re mad, sad or feeling bad. The key here is to remember that the world does not need to know all of your inner-most thoughts.
Second, social media is not the place to air your latest grievance or stand on a soapbox. I know it's hard, but try to keep your opinions to yourself and don't comment on other emotionally or politically charged posts. All it does is open you and your employer up to further scrutiny.
Third, the internet - no matter what social media platform you're using - is a public place. Don't post anything you wouldn't want your boss, board of directors, CEO or spouse to see.
As PR professionals, we know the risks involved in saying too much. In fact, we coach and advise our clients about it all the time. Now it’s time to coach our clients and ourselves about sharing too much.
So, what should we and our clients do to prevent oversharing on social media? I've got a few tips. Keep in mind that none of this is new information, but in light of Rivera's situation and the ongoing saga involving Anthony Weiner, I think it bears repeating.
First, as Rivera has proven, it's not wise to drink and tweet or use any form of social media when you have been drinking. The same rule applies to when you’re mad, sad or feeling bad. The key here is to remember that the world does not need to know all of your inner-most thoughts.
Second, social media is not the place to air your latest grievance or stand on a soapbox. I know it's hard, but try to keep your opinions to yourself and don't comment on other emotionally or politically charged posts. All it does is open you and your employer up to further scrutiny.
Third, the internet - no matter what social media platform you're using - is a public place. Don't post anything you wouldn't want your boss, board of directors, CEO or spouse to see.
And lastly, get a second opinion. If you're wondering how something will be perceived, test it out on a private audience first. And if you're questioning it to begin with, my guess is it's probably best kept private.
For more on the selfie debate, check out this article in the New York Daily News on how too many selfies can damage relationships.
Karen Potter, APR, is a public relations coordinator with Greenville Health System and a member of the SCPRSA Board of Directors. Follow her on Twitter at @potterkp.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment