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Myths and Risks of Social Networking

by Jake Swearingen

Tags: Facebook, Network, LinkedIn, Social Networking, Networking, Online Communications, Marketing, Advertising & Promotion, Jake Swearingen, Professional Network, Professional Development

You know that connecting to colleagues online has real benefits, but there are some things holding you back. If you’re worried about wasting time, losing your privacy, or struggling with your technical skills, don’t be — most social networks are safe and easy to use. That said, there are a few genuine concerns to be on alert for. Here’s a rundown of what you do — and don’t — need to worry about when networking online.

The Myths

It will become a time suck.
This will only come true if you let it. While the initial setup process may take part of an afternoon, once you’re up and connected to colleagues, a social network won’t require much time to maintain. In fact, your network can save you time by helping you find who you need quickly. Of course, any social network will require a modicum of attention and time in order for you to get the most of it. But then again, so does e-mail, and you’d hardly want to give that up.
I’ll lose my privacy.
Nearly every social network has ways of ensuring that your profile data is only viewable to those you have invited to see it. A stranger browsing Google won’t be able to trawl for your email or contact info — unless you’ve put it in your public profile. And remember: You don’t have to list any contact info you’re not comfortable disclosing. Worries of identity theft are ill-founded as well, as even those within your network would never see information like your Social Security number, date of birth, or home address. Think of it this way: There’s already bountiful information about nearly everyone on the Internet these days. At least with a social network profile (which tends to rank highly on Google), you control some of it.
I’m not tech savvy enough.
If you’ve managed to click on and read this story, you’re more than savvy enough to use any social network. It’s true that some sites, such as MySpace, can expect users to know basic HTML, but both Facebook and LinkedIn do all the heavy lifting for you. LinkedIn, in particular, uses a clear, simple interface designed with the site’s average user — aged 41— in mind. Filling out an online profile is just like typing a resume or filling out a form, one that’s decidedly simpler than, say, a 1040A.

The Risks

I’ll be deluged with spam.
Nearly every social network implements safeguards to keep spam at a minimum. And nearly every social network fails to some degree. MySpace saw users abandoning the site in droves after spam artists started using profiles as bait for illicit websites. Facebook users are sometimes deluged when friends inadvertently send out requests to install applications. And users on LinkedIn have been barraged with promotional emails or requests for introductions from overzealous contacts. MySpace and Facebook are still struggling with the issue, but there's a quick fix for LinkedIn. If someone’s outreach gets a little heavy handed, you can easily remove the pest from your contacts without them even knowing. (None of the major social networking sites inform contacts when you remove them from your network.)
My personal and professional lives will collide.
Who you are in the office can be very different from who you are outside of it, and online social networking can focus unwanted attention on that distinction. To avoid uncomfortable overlaps, make sure your contacts on LinkedIn are only those you know professionally. (Unless you’re both in the same field, it’s probably best to ignore your brother-in-law’s requests to link to you.) If you use sites like Facebook for professional networking, set up two separate accounts — one to meet with others in your industry, and another to keep up with friends from college.
My mistakes will come back to haunt me.
A stain on your virtual record can be difficult to get rid of. Specious advice, passive-aggressive recommendations, a white lie about your job history — these things can stick around for years after the fact. And don’t assume that simply deleting your profile will fix the problem. Facebook faced a wave of anger from users this February after it was discovered that bits of old profiles remained even after users deleted them. (Facebook now says the problem is fixed). Just as with e-mail, think twice before you type.
 
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  • 1

    josephmartins

    09/11/08 | Report as spam

    not entirely true

    Time sucking isn't a myth. It's a reality. Frankly, many people suck at managing time in their offline lives. Online social networks exacerbate the problem and make it easier to mismanage time by turning the Internet into on giant watercooler.

    Sites such a Facebook and MySpace are, for the most part, anti-productive. I've seen the effects firsthand within my social and professional circles.

    Professionals should stick with professional networking resources (i.e. sites such as LinkedIn) and avoid the other sites during their work day. What they do on their own time at home is up to them.

    •  
  • 2

    kokdemir

    09/11/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    Actually they will be first stage of the
    network society or network humanity. Then more
    professional and more complicated networks will
    arise. but everybody (users and providers) has
    to learn what networking is.

    •  
  • 3

    ranchogordo

    09/11/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    I avoided facebook, thinking it was another myspace. Once my 12 year old godson explained that "facebook was like myspace for old people", ithought I'd give it a try. It's been great. The more people you have, the more interesting and helpful. My business has it's own page and my blog as well.
    I'm surprised. I like it.

    •  
  • 4

    onoropu

    09/11/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    "Nearly every social network has ways of ensuring that
    your profile data is only viewable to those you have
    invited to see it."

    Not entirely true. Since I have seen no evidence that
    my data is encrypted, I have to assume that the folks
    that host the system can see everything.

    Right now, Google knows more about my areas of
    interest than my Wife (which may, or may not, be a
    good thing, now I come to think about it).

    •  
  • 5

    Motioneering

    09/11/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    Joseph Martins has it right.

    •  
  • 6

    gonca.telli@...

    09/12/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    I think it depens on personality and trust of these kind of social networking. Some of the statements could be evaluated as a myth some of them couldn't in different circumstances.
    On the other hand "wave of anger" could also arise in general life however we live in an age of speed that the users rapidly acquire the knowledge.

    •  
  • 7

    livethakly

    09/12/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    Of course social networks can be a time-suck, but thats only if you let it. Like anything else. Mine-sweeper was a time suck when it first came out for a lot of people.

    The interesting thing Ive seen about facebook is how it can reconnect people who have for a variety of reason been separated by location, time or a myriad other factors that is this thing called life. Sometimes thats a good thing, and sometimes, not so good, but thats up to each individual to decide for themselves.

    •  
  • 8

    CallMeKoala

    09/12/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    when your social networks (both personal and professional) spans across 20 different countries Face book, Linked in and above all Plaxo saves you tons of time.
    If all your contacts live in the same village then probably youdon't need those
    Technology is only a tool. Would you think a hammer is a bad tool because you could hurt yourself ?

    •  
  • 9

    S-DUser

    09/12/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    I tried to use 2 facebook accounts, but found my professional life continued to collide with my personal life. Now i keep three separate site accounts. Facebook is for personal, LinkedIn keeps my resume clean and Ittoolbox is the place I keep my professional profile and colloboration with other professionals.

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  • 10

    al_star_baby

    09/12/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    I agree with livethakly, social networks are only a time-suck if you let them become one. I understand how time can fly by while you're reading up on everyone's status updates, but with time management this can be prevented.

    I set aside about 15 minutes each day for each network I belong to, and only interact with that network during that period of time.

    In addition to that, I have also started using Ping.FM so that I can continue to update my status throughout the day in multiple networks without having to take the time to log into any of them. The only word of caution, if your updates are more on the personal level, only setup your Ping.FM for personal networks. No reason to let all of your Linked In contacts to know you're going to get a haircut. : )

    •  
  • 11

    Lucio Dias Ribeiro

    09/14/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    You better own your identity online rather than someone else to get ownership of it.
    I strongly advice anytime talk to someone to get the ownership of their identity


    Cheers
    Lucio Ribeiro
    The Online Circle
    Australia SEO and SEM

    •  
  • 12

    thumbarger

    09/25/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    If you are experimenting with Facebook, you need to make sure that your Facebook profile is not boring or a barren wasteland.

    I recently wrote a blog post that lists five simple things you can do to polish your Facebook image - http://tomhumbarger.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/are-you-boring-on-facebook/

    Let me know if you have any other suggestions.

    Tom Humbarger
    http://tomhumbarger.wordpress.com

    •  
  • 13

    shermanmohr

    09/30/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    Excel spreadsheets, powerpoint over creation,
    and other applications are time wasters that
    have stayed under the radar under the auspice
    of "business tools". My primary consideration
    when I meet someone is not always what they
    know but who are they connected to. I am one
    that googles all people, employees, prospects,
    etc. "owning one's name as best as possible is
    imperative". The easiest way to do so is to
    control your online presence. I think the
    article is dead on for the most part. I now
    use a social networking site for my own domain
    site. The tool kit is robust and the SEO is
    great.

    http://shermanmohr.com

    •  
  • 14

    MedXDispensing

    09/30/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    There is clearly value in social networking, even for "old" people. Undoubtedly though, separation between personal contacts vs professional contacts is critical, as I am very selective about even which professional contacts I include in Linkedin. If I have had even more than a mild acquaintance on a personal level, I tend not to include in Linked in, but rather make that a facebook contact.

    http://www.medxdispensing.com

    •  
  • 15

    victorseo

    10/01/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    Social Networking is just the tip of a big iceberg. Learn why IMS is BIG and seo is little at ims-seo.blogspot.com or www.seowins.com An interesting internet phenomenom is unfolding and it will be interesting to see how far it goes.

    •  
  • 16

    Iansc007

    10/22/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Myths and Risks of Social Networking

    The question of whether it is a waste of time or
    security risk for you is I believe a personal thing. If you
    are self-disciplined and wise about how much time
    you spend on social networks and what kind of
    information you put there social networking should
    not be a problem. One also needs to ask oneself why
    one uses such media. Is it for business only or
    pleasure also? Is it used as an escape from problems in
    the 'real world'?

    I am not a defender of social networks per se, but I
    think we all need to ask ourselves if our criticisms of
    social networks are a case of a bad time manager
    blaming his or her time management tools?

    Some social networks really are pathetic and have
    significant problems but are the problems we have due
    to the social networks or us or are they a mixture?

    If we really want to maximise our quality of life and
    time management and hence productivity I believe we
    need to be ruthless in searching our hearts and lives to
    see if we are not to blame and whether we don't need
    to do something about ourselves or lives that are not
    nice or easy to deal with.

    We need to look at ourselves and our lives and make
    sure we are doing our best with the help of others if
    necessary, to have the best life we can have and
    interact with others and the business world etc. as best
    as we possibly can and are not running away from
    demons or skeletons in the closet or other nasties.

    I personally don't believe it is correct or fair simply
    blame one or the other completely. Rather I believe we
    need a wholistic approach to this.

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