OMG! TMI! Overexposure in the digital space
The social side of the web is huge. Facebook is expected to reach one billion active users this month, while younger rival Twitter follows with a suggested 172 million active users. With so many of us interacting online, are we at risk of becoming overexposed in the digital space? This was one of the many topics discussed at Manchester’s Creative Exchange Launch event.
What’s on your mind?
Facebook wants to know ‘what’s on your mind?’ while Twitter boasts ‘yours to discover — start the conversation’, and millions of us are more than happy to comply. We spend 25% of our time on the web changing our statuses, uploading photos and videos, and sharing links. A massive 694,980 statuses are updated and 532,080 tweets sent every minute.
A social self-obsession?
With all this chatter online we must have a lot to talk about. Data shows that 80% of posts to social networks are about the poster. This puts social users at risk of becoming habitual over-sharers. Writing on a Quora post on privacy in the digital space, Daniel-Légère comments…
“We are happy to write a biography detailing the nuances of our lives, to share intimate photos, recent purchases, search enquiries, friend networks (and friend preferences!). There is no parallel in the real world. It would be like setting up a billboard outside your home featuring your inventory and hosting an open party in which guests have to wear ranked name badges.”
Self-preservation in the digital space
How can we escape falling into the trap of social overexposure?
Take a social inventory
First of all, take a look at how other people see you on the web. Try typing your name into Google to see what pops up. Hopefully there won’t be any nasty surprises, but if there are, that’s your starting point. After Google, sign out of your social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to see how your profiles look to the rest of the world. Again, if you see something you don’t like, get editing!
Become your own editor
Before submitting anything to be published, a writer will show their editor first. This allows for any discrepancies or unsuitable content to be omitted before it reaches the public eye. Become your own editor. Before publishing anything to a social network think about who you want to see it and who will see it.
Get organised
There are a multitude of social media management apps to help develop your online brand. Whether it’s for business or pleasure apps like Hootsuite, Tweetdeck and Sprout Social allow users to post to multiple networks, manage accounts and view statistics relating to their social activity.
