1. Tick off your current employer. Posting in web forums, blogs and social networks while at work - Hey, aren't you supposed to be working? What are you doing on paid company time? Worse of all, the time stamp basically nails you red handed....
2. Revealing too many details about work. Things that you do at work are generally P&C (Private and Confidential) and should no go out to the Public (unless you are the Company Publicist or Spokesperson). Generally, depending on what you do in the company, writing online about your work in detail will have serious ramifications, for instance:-
- Logistics - posting exact details on outbound shipments. Not so harmful if you're manufacturing toothpicks, but if you work for Fort Knox, security of the cargo will be compromised.
- R&D - your low-cost, third-world competitor will get the latest innovative ideas off your blog, and beat you to the market while you are still busy trying to get budget approval....
- Quality / Safety / Health / Environment department - declare your non-conformance to the whole world? What about legal and other requirements? Of course, most laws state that in any violation, the MD will go to jail. Well, guess what will happen to the fellow who put the him there?
2. Tick off potential employers. These days, besides going through your resume on Jobstreet, Human Resources can also pick up your scent online. Not such a good idea to post something inappropriate (especially if it is some unfriendly opinion regarding your present employer, or if it involves booze, whip cream - you get the idea!).
3. Reveal too many personal details. Some things are better kept to yourself, such as:-
- Declaring one's sexual alignment online could result in a bounty on your head, depending on the norms of the society that you reside in (worse still if you posted it on Youtube, since now they know what you look like). Such as this case over here : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/12/23/nation/7670758&sec=nation. Is that his real name in this news article?
- On vacation / vacation plans. Not such a wise move to declare when you will be away from home for a long stretch - you might just get some unwanted visitors dropping by.
- Personal identification - identity theft is quite easy these days. You can never be sure who's on the other side of the monitor, so to speak. Some internet services ask for security questions if you forget your password. If your blog just happens to contain the maiden name of your mother, favorite color, first pet's name, etc.. then you can imagine what can happen next. Even if your personal details are only revealed to your "friends" - ask yourself, how many "friends" on your preferred social network are really your "friends"? Sometimes we try to get as many contacts / friends that we fail to distinguish between casual acquaintances and close comrades.
5. Get yourself imprisoned and / or heavily fined. Detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960. Google it for more details. That's why I don't blog about local politics. Also, if you do something that your mother would not approve off, don't go and publish it online.
Well, with all the perils and pitfalls of cyberspace, do exercise caution and common sense whatever you do online. Might be easier to do this when writing a well-planned blog article, but what can we do about spontaneous responses (such as comments on Facebook, posts in a web forum and of course Tweets) that may come out "just like that"?
[ Update - 22 March 2011 ] - Some online safety tips for parents with tech-savvy kids : http://parenthots.com/features/Keeping-kids-safe-on-FB-and-other-social-networks.aspx
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