Social Media Warnings

I recently had a job interview with a new Social Media site. (They are currently looking for public relations coordinators to create buzz about their site.)Their aim is to be like “Facebook with a conscience”. I checked out their site before the interview and was impressed. They seem to have everything a good social networking site needs. You can create a profile, post items of interest, make alliances with other online members and search for jobs and volunteer opportunities. (www.Rethos.com)

Navigating around the site made me think about how more and more opportunities are popping up everyday for people to become their own publicists and/or internet stars. Anyone can publish anything, which often leads to misinformation and clouded issues. Everyone can be a “journalist”, posting their opinions on everything from national election issues to who is cheating on whom among the Hollywood crowd. The amount of information out there is staggering and it is important to remember that you can’t rely on 95% of it to be accurate or truthful.

Social media sites are a great networking tool and a good way to disseminate information to a wide audience along with blogs and online newsletters. However it is just as important to remember that these sites are a tool, a means not an end. I have found that putting information out there demands a responsibility that most internet users shirk. All good PR professionals should have knowledge of these sites and be able to use them effectively, just be careful who you associate with online. If Johnny Boy has you listed as an ally or friend and his site is filled with beer and cheap blondes, then your reputation, or your company’s reputation can and will be tarnished.

This point is best summed up like this: A PR pro came as a guest lecturer to one of my classes at UGA. He talked about social media and its importance to the new public relations. He also left us with a warning. Before his company hires anyone he does a search on Google. If you have a “myspace” or “Facebook” site, he will find it and what you post can determine whether or not you get the job, or a “Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”

Happy posting.