How to keep privacy in social media?

You're certainly not the only person asking questions about online privacy and social media. I'm glad you summed up your thoughts in this post, Robert.

I was initially 'creeped out' by Facebook. I felt exposed and vulnerable sharing so much information about myself. As I began to see the benefits, though, my attitudes changed.

In nearly five decades living on this planet, I've learned to place a high value on people, and my on network of relationships. I've also learned that the distinction between 'personal' and 'business' relationships is blurry. For this, this is a good thing.

People tend to do business with people that they 'know', like and trust. That's why business networking events have value. This is why sales people and executives have entertainment budgets.

Trust is particularly scarce in this part of the world (Central Europe). Here in Hungary, we usually look for a personal introduction through a mutual connection, before doing business.

In my 20 years of living in Hungary (as a foreigner) I've never formally applied for a job. All of my career opportunities have come through personal relationships.

Social media are simply a more efficient way of mediating these relationships. For the last three years, I've received most of my work through LinkedIn. I have a high profile on LinkedIn, with nearly 1000 contacts (most of whom I know personally) and at least 15 recommendations. These days, opportunities find me.

Facebook isn't strictly speaking a business site. However, it does have business implications. Facebook adds a personal dimension to many people I have previously known only through business. And that does have value. Again, business is ultimately about relationships with people.

True, Facebook and similar sites do have an enormous impact on our sense of what is private. Arguably we still don't completely understand those implications. HR staff now routinely 'google' and 'facebook' their job applicants.

One consequence is I now pay much more attention to people taking photographs at parties. I'm not a prude, but I'd rather not have drunken pictures of myself in compromising situations appear online.

I know many people who refuse to engage on Facebook for exactly these reasons. I also have one friend, a hardcore privacy activist in California, who insists on using PGP encryption for nearly all of his email communication.

I have taken the opposite view. I accept the fact that ANYTHING I communicate electronically is not, strictly speaking, private. Email, SMS and IM communication can be easily intercepted by third parties or subpoenaed in a lawsuit. Those who are sufficiently motivated, and have access to more sophisticated technologies, can even read what you display on your monitor, and from a considerable distance.

I agree it is scary to consider how exposed we all are. It's possible I have only added to your fears. However these are not issues that you or I face alone. Nearly 150 million people are using Facebook, worldwide. Governments and private business need to address these issues, and slowly, slowly they are.

Meanwhile, I still believe the benefits of social media outweigh the risks, at least for me personally. I've built my online and offline reputation upon my personal integrity. Call me naive, but I prefer to believe in a benign and friendly world. I refuse to live my life constantly looking over my shoulder for enemies and threats.

I also believe social media offers benefits to nowEurope and CITT. We're working to integrate the CENTROPE region by connecting researchers and business people in four different countries. Ultimately, this is about people creating relationships with other people.

Besides that, Robert, I want to know if you've recently attended any good parties out there in Szombathely and Western Hungary.

:-)

Thank you Steve for the comprehensive comment. In most of the questions I agree with you, particularly in the question of trust.
However I am still searching for a photo, that is proper for all of my contacts. :-)

I totally agree with Steve. Exposing yourself builds trust in unexpected ways. Like confessing a (business) mistake helps you sell more, because nobody is perfect and people have a tendency to dislike perfect people. Or at least people who think themselves perfect.

Social media is able to give you a more personal touch in business and give you a great opportunity to communicate with your friends (close and far) better.

I use three social media sites for different purposes and I just started to build all three within half a year.

LinkedIn is a superb tool for business relationships and business ideas in some ways. I try to use a high profile, but still unexperienced.

I use two twitter accounts. One for “personal brand building” and one for family and friends as I had a very early inconvenient experience mixing them up.

Facebook I use for personal relationship management. I post regularly and quite enjoy the opportunity.

For Facebook and Twitter I use a client (Socialite) to manage the posts and tweets.

For me social media is very important. I post any information that I find worth sharing, and partners, friends and family can choose what they want to look at. It is totally up to them. I think sharing even personal issues (good and bad both) helps people to open to you and have an inclusive attitude. I would say now it is even part of my communication strategy.

Previously I thought separation of private and business issues is a must. But then I lost a very important client to a fellow competitor who had a better personal relationship with the CEO. They went fishing together in the US the year before. :D