InSyNc WITH D. YATES: Social Networking Etiquette

Not everyone needs to know all of your business.

      *Whats up gadgeteers... This week, I wanted to take a couple of minutes to discuss the etiquette of social networking. As you probably are aware, social networking has blown up over the last couple of years. Websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace have allowed people to reconnect and reestablish friendship and relationships that would have otherwise been considered history.  

      I like social networking, but sometimes, I see status updates, makes me wonder "how much is too much info?" I mean come on man, there is a saying that my Godmother used to say: "don't air your dirty laundry in public." Apparently, some people don't consider the internet a public place. For instance, I was reading one comment today that said, "I can't wait to have earth shattering sex with someone, I'm so horny." Come on man...does the whole world have to know that you are sexually aroused? I mean, that's just too much information. 

     Now, I think we all have emotions, and I'll be the first to let you know that sometimes I wear mine on my sleeve. I think sometimes it's good to get it off your chest, but I just don't think that Facebook is the place to do that. I also don't understand why people write messages that are directed towards one person on their Facebook friends list. Just email them, or are you just trying to put all your business out there for everyone to see. If this is the case, lets take the mature route.

      Then you have your recent cheaters who have been caught on Facebook. Just last week in Atlanta, two teachers were caught fighting in school, in front of students, over a Facebook post that basically proved that one of the teacher’s boyfriend was sleeping with the other teacher.  I thought to myself, "this is some ignorant stuff." So, I have created a simple set of rules that users of Facebook - and other social networks - should follow.  Check em out…

         1. Don’t put something on Facebook that you wouldn’t want your mother to read. Now more than ever, people of all generations are joining Facebook.
         2. Try to avoid using company computers to access these social networking sites. Most companies block them anyway, but remember, everything you do at work on a computer, somebody’s watching.
         3. Avoid spreading your business on these sites. "What you eat don’t make me shit...” Jay-Z
         4. Avoid using your company’s name in your post. I know I have been guilty of this one too, but seriously, you might be up for a promotion, until your boss, who you forgot you recently added as your friend, sees how much you hate your job. Be Vague…leave your posts up to interpretation.
         5. Avoid posting negative  messages meant for one person, instead just email that person. Positive messages are different, but negativity only yields negativity. “What the world needs now is love sweet love...” Dianna Ross

      These five rules will keep you outta trouble. Again, I love social networking, I just want to make sure that we remember that these posts are visible to everyone. So, keep that in the back of your mind when you decide to post your next emotional thought! Peace out …

Darryl Yates is a freelance writer at EURweb.com, In addition to writing this column, he also owns and operates Gadget Guy Consulting. He can be reached at gogogadgetguy@me.com.