|
Free Website Content
Why Over Sharing Might Be Hurting You
The Downside to Sharing
By Sharon Housley
We all know someone who divulges a little
too much information on the Internet. Whether it's the
friend who Instagrams every meal or the relative who
constantly posts updates on how Fido's doing, this phenomenon
seems well on its way to pervading all the social media
we use. Maybe you have even caught yourself posting
a bit too much. While something that everyone seems
to be doing may appear harmless enough, oversharing
can have some negative consequences of which all social
media users should take note.
Given how common over sharing is, it can sometimes be
hard to see that anything could be wrong with it. However,
over sharing can be a poor social decision; the frequency
of posts in which over sharing results can lead to an
overbearing social media presence. Additionally, the
irrelevant, often trivial nature of many of the posts
oversharers make may become irritating to other social
media users, giving those who over share an even more
unfavorable online presence.
The potential negative consequences of over sharing
extend beyond basic social concerns. Your online presence
is often subject to the judgment not only of those you
know, but of potential employers. Over sharing in general
may provide an appearance of ineptitude and awkwardness
that can leave an undesirable impression with potential
employers. This phenomenon also presents other problems
in the area of employment; those who do not filter their
social media posts may have unprofessional or otherwise
inappropriate content on their accounts that could harm
their job prospects should potential employers see it.
Constant posting also holds the potential to place your
security at risk. Over sharing tends to publicize where
you are when you go out, which can be problematic and
potentially dangerous for people in a variety of situations,
especially while the incidence of stalking remains unnervingly
high. In addition to posting your locations, over sharing
in general can also publicize enough information for
others to determine patterns about your behavior and
activities, another issue that could facilitate stalking.
Additionally, making your whereabouts on social media
lets others know when you are not at home, which can
increase your risk of being targeted for a home break-in
and robbery.
Oversharing is not restricted to Tweets and status updates;
it can also manifest itself in your social media profiles.
While making your email address visible is unlikely
to bring you any harm, making yourself too accessible
by posting private contact information such as your
address or home phone number hold the potential to put
you in danger at the hands of people like stalkers.
Though over sharing carries a number of risks, it can't
quite be branded a dangerous activity. However, the
potential problems that accompany it are worth considering
as you use social media. Though the decision on what
to share online is ultimately yours, it's better to
be safe than sorry.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for NotePage, Inc.
http://www.notepage.net
, FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
**********************************************************
This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource
box is included and the links are active. A courtesy
copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would
be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
**********************************************************
|
