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How much personal and professional information should you
put on-line? And do those two types of information really belong together? For
some citizens of cyberspace, social networking has blurred the line between the
personal and the professional. Social media sites such as Facebook allow a
company's employees to join a network which links them to their co-workers.
Each employee can then join other personal or professional networks, post
pictures of family vacations, download games, and even look for love. In the
case of Facebook, so-called "news feeds" keep you current on the details of
others' lives. But did you really want to know that the engineer in charge of
your company's most important project just downloaded the "What does your birth
date mean?" application.
Social networking sites such as Facebook have found a way to
make money on-line, mainly through advertising. And while Facebook can be fun,
what's in it for you? You're a busy technical professional who is bombarded
with emails, voice mails, and visits from a co-worker who reminds you of the
"Richmeister" from Saturday Night Live. My opinion, along with $1 (USD), may
buy you an 8-oz. cup of coffee at a Starbucks shop in Seattle. But, unlike many of colleagues, I've
braved this new on-line world and joined Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and
ZoomInfo. And I'm happy to report that there's little chance I'll contract
digital and social media syndrome (DSMS), an alleged illness that causes
citizens of cyberspace to ignore their friends and family in the real world.
Of these four social media sites, I like LinkedIn the best. After
all, I'm a practical person who prefers to use cyberspace for professional
purposes. Unlike MySpace, which is clearly aimed at a younger and more
fun-loving crowd, LinkedIn is all business. Here, you can create a virtual
resume and cover letter, add professional contacts instead of "friends", and
display recommendations from past and present co-workers. Even if you're not in
the market for a new job, it's smart to keep your credentials current. Of course,
if you're more interested in updating a list of your favorite bands and
barrooms, LinkedIn probably isn't for you. (But you should definitely check out
MySpace.) And if you're more of a bibliophile than a bar-hopper, Facebook provides
a happy medium.
A wise man once said that "there's no such thing as a free
lunch". Then he got the bill. In this brave new world of social networking,
MySpace and Facebook are as free as a glass of tap water. But they're not free
from advertising or spamming. LinkedIn and ZoomInfo, another professional networking
site, are also available free of charge; however, their more advanced
capabilities will cost you. Still, if you've ever Googled your good name and
found some odd results, you understand the importance of maintaining a
professional on-line presence.
So, CR4er, do you Facebook? And are you LinkedIn?
Editor's Note: Click here for Part 1 of this two-part series.
Steve Melito - The Y Files
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