While logging onto my facebook account, I was, one day, wondering what would happen if I decided to say ‘sayonara’ to my virtual life  – in other words, no more facebook, myspace and such. Well, I did not have to spend to much time on the issue because I saw – in my account – that a friend posted an invite for a party, and off I went!

 

(istockphoto)

It seems inconceivable for us, Gen Yers, to live without our virtual identities.  From organizing social events, to keeping in touch with friends all other the world, these sites seem to be the easiest way to go.

Social networking web sites have been popping up, like mushrooms, all over the internet, and sites like facebook.com or myspace.com provide, most of us with, the tools to create and nourish our virtual identities – identities that are less and less private.  In fact, what we put on internet is, in one way or another, for the world to see, and this ‘shared information’ can negatively impact our professional lives. By using these networks, we willingly choose to expose elements of our lives (private and/or public). As a result, it is very easy to get caught up in the web of relative importance that those networks give to our social lives. We might sometimes forget that the effect of the internet can easily outdo (for good or bad) our expectations.

There are many debates around this privacy issue. Imagine, for a second, that your future employer falls (by mistake or not) on your overexposed profile on one of these web sites? The results can be damaging…  On the other hand, a polished and professionally attractive profile – that includes volunteer work, professional associations, etc.. – might give you points when it comes to employment.  Therefore, being selective on what information we decide to expose on the internet, seems to be common sense.