Many companies banned social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to stop employees using them in work time, however for those that allow them, there is always an element of risk…

On this blog in August 2009, I wrote about how tweeting can get your own way and how the power of Twitter is unbelievable, which is very true and I think people forget this all too often!

The latest article I found was relating to how people forget about social networks being as powerful as they are – a Vodafone employee wrote an offensive and obscene message on a Vodafone customer complaints Twitter account. The Twitter account in question had over 8,000 followers at the time and Vodafone had to apologise to each and everyone who was following them.

Another instance of lack of awareness of how powerful social networks are was just after New Year, when a so called ‘joke’ on micro blogging site Twitter ended up with a Doncaster man being arrested under the terrorism act!

“Robin Hood airport is closed, You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!” (Source: The Independent Online)

Another story appeared around a similar time about a questionable picture (a baby with a cigarette in his mouth) on Facebook by a teenage mother, who was subsequently arrested and had social services checking around to ensure the baby was not subjected to any harm.

I think there are some very important lessons to be learnt here;
Think before you speak/act/type!
What enters the web stays on web, search engines index everything!