Uncontrolled message

We can't use Facebook - it's an uncontrolled message.

If I hear this one more time - I shall get very very cranky. It is NOT an uncontrolled message, you post information on Facebook, you can remove it, you can restrict who sees it, what they can do with it and how many people can administer said information.

I know Social Networking can be scary for some people but don't they realise that they are saying exactly the same things that were said about the introduction of the telegraph, telephone, individuals telephones at work, email and the internet.

Why does everyone come from a NO point view - rather than a 'that's interesting tell me more' point of view?

If you don't understand it - that's absolutely fine but be brave, honest and smart enough to ask questions and really listen to the answers.

The fact is people are talking about you and your organisation online, in person, in print and on the radio, so you can either listen or ignore it. But if I were you I would be listening because there are some smart people out there and they might just have a great idea you can steal!

Privacy lost

Thanks to those who have commented on my first blog and those who talked to me about it.

Over the weekend the wife of the soon to be head of MI6 got him into a bit of trouble. She posted large amounts of private information about herself, husband, family and friends on Facebook.

Sadly her profile was not very secure, according to UK media reports it was viewable to anyone in the London network. The photos were classic family snapshots, of people being silly and family and friends on holiday, but now they are public they are embarrassing.

So why do we want to share - why would you put family photos on the internet after the now dozens of examples of similar cases where private photos have entered the public domain? Why do people not learn from other people's mistakes?

The internet is not private - it's as simple as that. The ability to copy and paste is just too easy. Recently a parent told me about how she is teaching her children about what is suitable for the internet.

Would you want that photo on show in the local deli window?

If the answer is NO then don't put it on the internet EVER.

You just never know what's going to happen to the photo, someone you don't know or trust might get access to the photos through fair means or foul.

It is sad that this amazing opportunity to share parts of our lives with friends and family around the world is slowly being lost to us.

But I do wander why there are some in the world who are quite happy for their private lives to be open to world while the rest of us value our privacy?