There are certain things you’d never say in front of your grandmother, a prospective employer, or a colleague. So why do some people think it’s ok to say this things on the Internet?
We’ve probably all heard that you should take down pictures of you doing keg stands in college or in scandalous Halloween costumes when you’re hunting for a job. But that’s not the only time you need to be careful of how you represent yourself in social media.
In 2009 a woman in Chicago was sued for tweeting about her moldy apartment:
“Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks it’s okay.”
Horizon sued her for $50,000 for ruining their rep worldwide…. she had 17 followers.
A couple traveling out of town gave several Twitter updates along the way, including:
“preparing to head out of town”
“another 10 hours of driving ahead”
“made it to Kansas City.”
They were robbed.
If you wouldn’t leave it on your voicemail, don’t leave it online.
Be careful what your acquaintances say, too. A Colorado Senator repeatedly told reporters he was too busy with ‘Senate business’ for an interview. Then a tweet from another reporter shows up:
“Just back from lunch with Sen. Bennet (Colo.).”
Busted.
You don’t get a free pass for being famous either.
The owner of the Dallas Mavericks’ was fined $25,000 by the NBA for the following tweet:
“How do they not call a tech on JR Smith for coming off the bench to taunt our player on the ground?”
Seems innocent right? Not to the NBA.’
Joe Schmoe’s not off the hook either.
“Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.”
It wasn’t long before that wasn’t a decision he didn’t have to make- Cisco pulled the job offer. {You know companies can track their name right? Anybody can.}
Forget fines, Twitter can get you arrested too. Angry about a snowstorm, a man in the UK wrote:
“Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your sh** together, otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!”
He was arrested and banned from the airport for life.
Thought Twitter and Facebook were just for fun, personal use? Think again.
According to Proofpoint, 8% of companies fired an employee in 2009 (up from 4%) for something social media related. 13% of companies have investigated an employee’s tweet.
For other famous social media blunders, check these out:
10 Famous Social Media Blunders of 2010
5 Examples of Social Media Blunders & What to Learn From Them
In Pictures: 20 Social Media Blunders
Ever made a social media mistake?
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