Fine Print

A very cool project that I have been working on for The Firkin Group of Pubs over the past couple of weeks has resurrected an ongoing debate in the corridors of GCI Canada’s 40 Holly Street – well actually between me and John Carson.

When we sat down together and started brainstorming ideas for the Firkin Facebook group, he turned to me and asked about whether I had a “professional profile” – which I don’t. As I am an administrator for the group, the discussion was raised about whether I was comfortable with strangers potentially having access to my profile, friends and photos. This led to us discussing whether PR practitioners should make a point of limiting the privacy settings on our pages to co-workers, journalists and industry contacts.

My two cents: a friend is a friend is a friend. I don’t have a professional profile out of principle and I wouldn’t post anything on my page that I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my mother seeing. My rule of thumb – if it would make her uncomfortable, it isn’t going up on Facebook! Fortunately, my life is also pretty “scandal-free” so this philosophy has never failed me.

(My mother actually did join Facebook last week …)

What are your two cents?

~ Sarah Van Lange, Consultant, GCI Canada