Growing up, most of us have been lectured on our posture – not only for keeping our backs straight, but also because the way we stand as we enter a room is the first portrayal of information from our bodies. Throughout our lives, we’ve been groomed over and over again to present ourselves (be it our bodies, ideas, or personalities) in a manner that is “socially acceptable”. However, of course, what is socially acceptable is constantly evolving, and is subjective to one’s culture.
With the dawn of social media, a new dynamic has been introduced into our lives. This media is “controlled” by us, but at the same time, we are equally as controlled by it. This new world of profiles can be useful and can be harmful. Due to its relative novelty, social media poses the problem in that we have yet to determine what is “socially acceptable” to publish. For many, it is a welcome distraction, and it is used to share what we’re having for lunch, or our new promotion, but it’s critical to remember that nothing is ever completely private on the Internet.
Social media opens us up to criticism from the general public. Although, we may have some amount of control over who can view and comment on our posts, for the most part, it’s now easy to access a wide array of personal information just by a simple Google search. How we conduct ourselves online has become, in a sense, the new “posture”. It is one of the first indications of who we are. For example, as an applicant for a job, your online profiles could be the making or breaking points for your employer. If you left your previous job and posted a long Facebook status dragging down your employer, it’s unlikely that a new company will jump to hire you. Whilst your statements might be true, if asked why you had left the job in an interview, would you have responded in such a manner or would you have tried to be more diplomatic? Of course, the situations are vastly different; the first, a tense room with a potential employer, and the second, solitude and a computer screen –most times, the latter is a better reflection of your true feelings.
The problem lies therein. Are our profiles something we should treat as informal? Something we should treat lightly, sharing our every whimsy? Personally, I think not, for a simple reason – nobody truly has a hundred friends in real life. So if we’re going to post, as though we are talking only among friends, maybe we should only add persons we know. However, it’s possible, even then to have your information shared with strangers. It’s a difficult line to walk, but a necessary one. In a world that is destined for continued technological advancement, there’s no way to “beat ‘em”. The only way is to join them…responsibly.
