THINK AGAIN

The hidden perils of social networking sites.

'I am amazed at how indiscrete some of these postings can be. It is almost as if the person making them has forgotten that they can be read by anyone who has access to their site.' writes Barbara Scott

For someone like me who loves to correspond via the internet and enjoys socialising and exchanging ideas with others, you would think that I would embrace the chance to join a social networking site. Not so! Many of my friends keep asking me to join them on Facebook and are bemused by my refusal to do so. They know that I am computer literate (after having been used to working with them for years) and that I am an avid e-mailer who regularly sends them photos and anecdotes about my life so they don't understand my reluctance. The reason for my reticence is that I have seen too much trouble caused by people 'posting' things on sites such as this in haste and with a total disregard for the consequences.

I am amazed at how indiscrete some of these postings can be. It is almost as if the person making them has forgotten that they can be read by anyone who has access to their site. There have been many cases in England of employers spying on their employees by logging into their Facebook account and finding inappropriate remarks made about their bosses. This has often resulted in them being dismissed. Also prospective employers often do a search to see if the candidates are suitable for the job they are applying for. So I would suggest that anyone who is signed up to, or is thinking of signing up to, one of these so-called 'social networking' sites be cautious about what they put on them. I am sure it can be a fun thing to belong to and believe me I have been tempted myself to join up and have a peek at what is going on in this strange world but I think it is slightly voyeuristic and it doesn't sit comfortably with me. Perhaps it is an age thing. It seems to me that it is a bit like what my mother would have called: "Hanging out your dirty washing in public"!

I was once advised by a very wise old headmaster of mine never to put anything in writing that you wouldn't want your parents to read. At the time, being young and rebellious, I dismissed this as 'teacher speak'. However, having seen the havoc that casual and careless remarks can cause, both legally and emotionally, I would say that he was very right to advise me thus. Used wisely there is probably a lot to gain by becoming part of this world but in the wrong hands there is also a great deal to to be lost.