By Bethra Szumski

Without question, the Internet—social networking in particular—is changing the way that people interact. It brings people closer by creating more convenient communication between friends, family members, and co-workers. In many ways it has reduced the “need” for more personal communication. This is creating a totally new mindset in our culture.

One of the major consequences of this transition is that people often have difficulty with the line between what is (and should remain) private information, and what is safe and suitable for public consumption. As Americans we have the right to freedom of speech—but that doesn’t mean what we say publicly can’t get us fired, arrested, or divorced. Most of us voluntarily post more information online than any intelligence agency in the world could possibly uncover. People in every field and profession from politics to education have lost opportunities and employment due to imprudent Internet activity.

In a field like ours, which on some level is built on freedom of expression, an individual is unlikely to risk being fired for posting profanity or political views. However, there are certainly online “dealbreakers” that have led to folks losing their studio positions. Based on these stories, I’ve come up with some general guidelines for body artists to consider when posting content to their social networks:

1. Never assume, no matter how carefully you choose your “friends,” that something you post about a business or individual won’t be relayed back to them.
2. Understand that nothing you post—even if you delete it—ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever truly goes away. [I wrote that six times because that’s how many backup copies Facebook keeps of every photo you upload, every word you type, and every page you visit.]
3. If you have a problem with your studio, keep it in your studio. If you need to seek advice or vent about a situation, do it privately—preferably in person—with a handful of colleagues that you trust. Never post complaints about studio policy, coworkers, bosses, or clients on the web. Find a private place to vent instead.
4. As a point of studio policy, it’s important for workers to know what kinds of posts are likely to get them in hot water. As long as you declare your place of employment—or if any of the people in your network even know where you work—you are a representative of that business. The argument “if you don’t like my posts, don’t read them” holds little water when you represent a business or entity. People will show their disapproval by not frequenting your establishment or purchasing your product. Studio politics play a big role here as well. Posting negative remarks about competing studios or practitioners will put your entire business at odds with that establishment. And even if what you say is true, gossiping about it online is unprofessional.
5. Your personal social media accounts, especially on your cell phone, can catch you in a lie faster than anything else. If you call in sick, really be sick. Checking in at the bar or golf course that day is an offense that could get you fired, no matter what your position.

If any of these ring a bell it’s not surprising. Technology is moving too fast for most of us to keep up. The surprising thing to me is when people actually feel a sense of personal privacy and security on the Internet. Is this perhaps due to the intimacy we often feel with our electronic devices? After all, we talk to them, and they keep us company when we are alone, help us when we are lost, tell us everything we want to know about almost any topic, remind us of our appointments, provide us with sexual gratification—you name it. Most of the things we used to need from other people can now be found in a palm-sized device. It’s easy to believe that our special electronic friend could never do us wrong, but be cautious: this is a friend that could unknowingly betray you.