I wonder whether Orwell would see the parallel between the society that he described in his novel “1984” and the ability that our growing obsession with social media potentially gives to individuals and organizations to know all about us the way that I do.
In his novel titled “1984” George Orwell described a society where everyone is under total surveillance by the authorities via tele-screens (combined camera/screens) and spies. The people are constantly reminded of this by the phrase "Big Brother is watching you".
You may be wondering what got me thinking about an old novel that was required reading in high school. Sadly, it is because all too often lately, I am hearing stories about lost opportunities. Opportunities that may have been realized had the victims been aware of the need to carefully manage their online activities.
Recently a friend of mine called from DC to report that her daughter had not been admitted to the PhD program she had applied to. Everyone was surprised because this young woman was an excellent student and a stand up girl as judged by those that really know her. My friend’s husband, a retired Brigadier General made a few well placed calls and found out that while the university felt his daughter had excellent academic promise, her character was questionable. Why? They checked out her Facebook page and found self-reported drug experimentation in college in her profile. (By the way – she also reported on Facebook that she hated the drug experience.)
In an era when jobs are scarce, cyber-stalking (fun and larcenous) is a hobby for many, and identity theft is on the rise - why would someone post this kind of information in cyberspace for everyone to see?
It’s easier to do than you may believe. Closer to home, I sent an email to a distant colleague of mine cautioning her sarcastic online remarks about her new employer. Initially she was peeved at me and I could tell she thought I was paranoid, but I noticed the next time I logged on to Facebook those comments were no longer on her “wall”.
The best advice I can offer is that if you wouldn’t say it to your mother or some other person whose opinion you revere – don’t post it online. If that seems like too much of a violation of your right to express yourself – take the time to understand the privacy settings that all the social networking tools offer – and use them.
Right or wrong – CYA (cover you’re a**). You may be sorry if you don’t.
By the way - the novel “1984: was written in 1948. How strange is it that in 2009 tele-screens really do have the potential to allow anyone to watch you?
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