[Air-L] Facebook posts used to fire people in Australia

[Monica Barratt]

Yes, reading this article certainly brought me back to thinking about the
blurry public/private line. I agree that it is mistaken to see this as
completely new, rather, it is another way of doing something that has been a
threat to employees (and employers in some cases) throughout history, just
using different techniques and technology.

This comment struck me:
"Our recent story about companies sacking employees over seemingly private
Facebook chatter has provoked several new examples from readers who claim
their employers took their Facebook postings *out of context* and used them
as an excuse to show them the door."

It does seem to be the case that, regardless of the "trust no-one" reality,
people feel unfairly treated by these situations where their words are
"taken out of context" - from what felt like a private context into a
professional context.

Rhiannon, your story about the email has probably happened to so many of us
(I can think of a few times emails of mine ended up being read by eyes I had
never bargained for). Even though I know all this intellectually, I still
get the sense that - generally - my online conversations are just going to
be read by those I expect to read them. I find it hard to always apply the
rule (act like the whole world will read this!) to everything I say. Well, I
have to think about it - it doesn't come naturally to me, let's put it that
way.

I'm currently writing up my research with drug users who read and/or
participate in online discussions about drugs in public online forums. I
asked them to reflect on their concerns about privacy, if they had any,
anything they did to mitigate risks. So far I've found a wide range of
attitudes and actions taken.. with the younger people and those with less
online experience being a lot less concerned.


Monica




2009/4/9 Ben Light <B.Light at salford.ac.uk>

> Thanks for the link Monica and the discussion.  I've just finished a
> session
> with a PhD student I am working with who's just about to jump into the
> field
> and follow the development and implementation of social media at a network
> solutions company - her focus is on the possible implications for 'home'
> and
> 'work' life.
>
> Of course we found ourselves talking about the telework research of the
> 80s,
> but also the pre-industrial revolution cottage industries of the UK!  I'm
> sure we could go back further :O)
>
> Ben.
>
>
> Ben Light
> Professor of Digital Media
> Director IS, Organisations and Society Research Centre
> Acting Associate Head of School - Research
> School of Media, Music and Performance
> The University of Salford
> Adelphi House
> Salford
> M3 6EN
>
> www.smmp.salford.ac.uk
> www.benlight.org
> www.isos.salford.ac.uk
>
>