All of these just require a little common sense to do them with an acceptable degree of risk. Participating in social networking is the same. You learn the rules, play well, and learn how to protect yourself. You’ll be fine.
So, a few things to consider:
- Don’t rant. A comment on someone’s post should be interesting, analytical, friendly, courteous, kind, etc.—but never off the hook angry. It will stay around for a lot longer than you are mad, and it may come back to bite you.
- Stay “a little bit anonymous.” Don’t publish your phone number on the Internet unless you’re really ready for it. Offering a product or service personally? Give them an email address and a PO Box—but not your street address. If you need to indicate your location, be general (Boston, instead of Wellesley). Use a professional name, pen name or stage name if it makes sense.
- Don’t stay in a fight. If you get attacked, walk away. Block the troll commenter from your blog site, stop reacting to a personal attack. It will just go on and on, and there is no point. And you end up looking as bad as the troll if you’re not careful.
- Your boss is looking at you. Remember that when you post a waist-up naked pic of yourself, or drunken shots of the next party—or let your friends do it. It was on a site for just your friends? You’re just a “right-click/copy picture” away from someone who has had a falling out with you broadcasting it to the world.
When you’re on the Internet, just remember that when you post something, comment, or generally make a fool of yourself it is in front of an audience of millions, or at least could be. If that is what you’re planning, that might be okay. If it’s an accident, watch that first step—it’s a doozy.
