Mayhem & Chaos Productions

Sal Baldovinos | December 7, 2009 | 553 Responseshttp://www.mayhemandchaos.com/2009/12/social-transparency-mixing-business-pleasure-online/Social+Transparency%3A+Mixing+Business+%26+Pleasure+Online2009-12-07+19%3A15%3A36Sal++Baldovinos

The dictionary defines transparency or transparent as

–adjective

1. having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.
2. admitting the passage of light through interstices.
3. so sheer as to permit light to pass through; diaphanous.
4. easily seen through, recognized, or detected: transparent excuses.
5. manifest; obvious: a story with a transparent plot.
6. open; frank; candid: the man’s transparent earnestness.
7. Computers. (of a process or software) operating in such a way as to not be perceived by users.
8. Obsolete. shining through, as light.

For the purposes of this post, lets look at numbers 4 – 7, though most-all apply. If you’re reading this you’re probably not the person who needs this defined for you. You already know what being transparent means. We heard it countless times in the past few years, though we haven’t seen much of it from a certain someone – later blog post.

Anyway, while I was discussing this with my wife, she commented on how she removed her Twitter feed from her Facebook status update and why. I’ve also spoken to others about it and their reason(s). How they keep one set of friends in the dark while the others get to see another side of you.

Granted you may not want great-aunt Edna to see you were out Friday night singing Karaoke after your fourth shot of “courage” juice, but it’s who you are. If you’re ashamed of the things you do with one set of people, then why do them at all?

Family & friends aside, I’ve seen people do this with professional relationships too. They stick to a set of rules and tone of voice online that differs from who they really are. Even Chip Conely had a dilemma of taking his burning man pictures off Facebook.

While I see the dilemma in those situations; do I post my drunken pictures from Saturday? Will my boss see them? Will my mom comment on it and embarrass me? Yes. Yes and duh, she’s your mom. It’s who you are! If you’re a hard-working person, a super-star at work, stay out of trouble (professionally), have a communication with your family, who cares what you do on your own time. That’s why it’s called personal time.

That said, will doing so cause issues in your personal and/or professional situations? Possibly. Probably. Maybe. Employers know that their staff has lives and those lives now-a-days get played out online via Twitter and/or Facebook, YouTube, 4Sqaure, etc. But again, it’s who you are. Does that mean have a free-for-all and post every deed you do online? I would say no, with a caveat.

Facebook has privacy settings, use them. Set up groups and give them permission to see certain things or NOT see certain things. Bottom line: be smart about it. You are who are. If you’re still unsure, then don’t post it. When in doubt, snuff it out!

Personally I link my Twitter to my Facebook. Those not following me on Twitter but are friends on Facebook will also have the opportunity to join the conversation. Isn’t that what Social Media is all about? Having a conversation? Provoking thoughts and feelings. Has it bitten me in the butt? Several times. Did  I loose a job over it, not yet. But since those times my rear has been victim to a biting, I’ve chosen my words wisely. I still want to engage people but you do it with tact.

Social Transparency is very much a double-edged sword. You want to allure people and be recognized while at the same time you have to keep yourself sheltered from unwanted eyes. How’s your social transparency working?

Photo credit: webtreats

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