You may know that I’ve been struggling with challenge of crossing the line in Facebook from personal to business. And while I’m slowly making the transition, it seems every day I learn more to be wary of. Specifically, I recently learned about a burglary that occurred in June after a not-so-bright enthusiastic photographer Tweeted his precise whereabouts in detail.
In case you missed the story when it happened (like I did), CNET reported:
Israel Hyman posted to approximately 2,000 followers on Twitter that he and his wife were “preparing to head out of town,” that they had “another 10 hours of driving ahead” and later, that they “made it to Kansas City.”
When he came home, he found that someone had broken into his house and stolen thousands of dollars worth of video equipment he used for his video business, IzzyVideo.com, which he uses for his Twitter account.
“My wife thinks it could be a random thing, but I just have my suspicions,” he told the Associated Press. “They didn’t take any of our normal consumer electronics.”
It seems like a no-brainer to me to NOT post about being away from home for extended periods. Then again, if I’m going to use my social media accounts for business, and part of my business is say… going on a book tour in some optimistically imagined future, then posting where I am is pretty important. Dilemma.
Here’s another dilemma: no matter how careful I am about guarding my privacy, others are not so careful. Recently, I was on vacation when a helpful neighbor sent me a link to a new subway map app for the iPhone. Along with it she added, I know you’re in NYC – have a great trip!
Comments? Suggestions? How do you manage your message, and your ‘friends and followers’ on social media?
