Yesterday a friend of mine called in a frantic panic. I call it the Twitter Shock.
Apparently, she had accidentally hit the tweet share button on a local news story she was reading and had inadvertently shared the link on Twitter. With a not-so-flattering headline to boot!
Oops!
As luck would have it, when she tried to delete it from her Twitter stream, she was getting an error code and it wouldn’t delete. Hence the frenzied call to me!
Long story short, a quick browser change and she was deleted and happy. Well, the update was deleted. She decided to stay on Twitter.
This whole episode brings up an interesting subject.
Mainly, are you paying attention?
Are you guarding what you are putting out there on the social networking sites and are you being considerate and mindful when it could possibly be hurtful to someone else?
In this case, it was simply a local news story we were talking about. But it was causing a tremendous amount of gossip and my friend didn’t want to be part of the problem by spreading the story.
Mistakes happen.
Her tweet was accidental and can happen to anyone but what about us? The internet marketers who use social media for our livelihood? Do we use social media with a conscience or are we guilty of sharing content that really has no value?
Think about it . . .
Your social media content is forever. (at least that’s what I hear) So use good judgement.
Sharing is caring. Share carefully.
Peace,
-Martha
Martha Giffen
Martha Giffen is a Small Business and Social Media Consultant, Coach, Trainer, and Speaker. The author of 3 best-selling books, including "Be Social Be Rich," she is an Online Marketing authority and teaches Small Biz Owners how to achieve massive profitable success. And, -she dishes it all out with a warm southern flare!
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Janet, it’s always so good to have you comment on my blog. You bring such added value and have such a way with words!
I like your criteria for deciding whether to hit the “send” button or not. In my case, anything I share can be seen by my clients, my prospects OR my family and friends so if it doesn’t represent who I am, it doesn’t get posted!
Also, LOVE the “oops” button idea! Maybe it was still floating around in my brain from seeing it on your blog?
Thanks again for stopping by!
Martha, aloha. Interestingly enough, I posted a topic on this very topic not too long ago. What your friend needed is an “oops” button and I believe we all have needed one at times. Heck, sometimes after I hit Submit on a comment I see a typo and cringe.
When I was collecting quotes for a post on social media quotes, a friend of mine who is BIG in social media, gave me a good one. This is what he said:
“What happens n Vegas, stays in Vegas; what happens on twitter, stays on Google forever.”
Definitely words to remember. Martha, oftentimes I see cute pictures, quotes or the like on facebook and am tempted to post them. What I always think is “what would someone think who didn’t know me and only saw that?” In more than one instance, Martha, that has been the deciding factor not to share.
Even though we can “control” who sees what on our fb wall, who knows which of your friends/associates will share it and, being the good people they are, give you the credit for the share? All of a sudden, what you didn’t want to be out everywhere, now is with your name on it.
Great reminder to one and all to think before clicking that key.
Best wishes, Martha, for a terrific weekend. Until next time, aloha. Janet
Janet @ The Natural Networker recently posted..Are you conflicted?
Hi Martha,
This has happened to me but I didn’t do it.
I had to go into the other room and my husband
and son was sitting talking to his dad.
When I came back I got a tweet that read did you
really mean to tweet that.
Than another one came in saying did you really
mean to tweet to all your followers. I should have
know my son did some thing. But that day I wanted
yo crawl under a rock. But I did delete it but my family
hasn’t let me live it down.
Bonnie Squires recently posted..Because Love is bigger than anything else
Haha Bonnie! You bring up yet another good point. Always be sure you have logged out of your social media accounts!
What happens on the Internet stays on the Internet. But wait…. there are complete strangers with smartphones and video cameras just waiting for you to “misbehave” or show your backside at Wal*Mart.
Right! What are people THINKING??
Mindfulness goes a long way in life, and of social networks too Martha
I never had a similar instance but can see how a moment of mindlessness leads to some interesting situations.
Ryan Biddulph recently posted..Use this Stunningly Simple Ad Copy Tip to Rapidly Improve Your Financial Situation
Yes, it’s getting harder and harder to have a mindless moment! LOL
The Internet really is a micrcosm of life. I’ve found that, when I can’t make a comment disappear no matter how many times I press the delete button, it’s best to let the bad feelings go – just like with other stuff I have little control over.
Phyllis Goldberg recently posted..Virtual Book Tour with Anne Kreamer
Yes, thinking twice will usually work. Just today I had ‘yucky’ tweet with my name attached to it. WHY do people DO that??
Good advice..think twice before you tweet! I have unfollowed people once or twice for tweets that I found ‘yucky’. (That’s my word for gross, rude or not my ethics)
Thanks for spreading this message Martha!
Bonnie recently posted..Fabulous Friday ~ Beautiful People Edition!
Very good advice. Dare I say I tweeted this?
Alana (@RamblinGarden) recently posted..Special Fall Color – The Survivors
Funny Alana! Yes, I think it’s “tweet worthy!” thanks!
Hi Martha,
I’m so glad you were able to help your friend resolve this program in a timely manner.
Janet Callaway and I had a chat about this last week because I’m sure most people heard that Google’s engineer accidentally published some content for all to see when it was meant for everyone internally only. That’s the times they need an oops button.
But you are right, are you thinking of what your readers might want to read or are you just posting out of emotion? Something to definitely consider.
Glad this was resolved.
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Yes, in this case, it was completely an accident and in my opinion wouldn’t have been a big deal but it was to her and that’s what mattered.
When I was first reading about Twitter, many of the experts were saying, in so many words, “Sure, just tweet anything you want.” Fortunately, it didn’t take terribly long before they were adding, “Actually, there are rules. All the usual rules about what you can say in a public place still apply.”
Yes, people should always remember social media sites are public and common sense should prevail. Thanks for stopping by!