Blog » 4 Reasons I'm not Posting Photos on Facebook
4 Reasons I'm not Posting Photos on Facebook
Do you have a policy on how much you’ll share on social media? I’ve had a lot of requests to post photos of my family on my Facebook page. For a variety of reasons, I’m reluctant to share much personal information about myself on the internet. I know it’s not a popular view but I’m sticking to my guns on this one.
1) My social media presence is connected to my business, Global Copywriting. Most of my user ids are “globalcopywrite” or some variation of that name. It also happens to be the name of my company. My family do not work in my business so including their pictures in a social media profile would be inappropriate.
2) Once you post photos on Facebook, they enter the public domain. While it probably wouldn’t bother me to have my fans/followers/connections see photos of my family, I certainly don’t want to make those same photos available to their wider networks.
3) Once a photo is in the public domain, you can’t control what happens to it or how it’s used. Paul Pichugin knows this all too well. Channel 9 News used a photo of his that was posted on his Blaque Studios Fan Page. They refuse to compensate him or even give him a photo credit. It’s good enough they’re using it in their promotional collateral but when he’s asked to be recognised as the photographer, he got a letter from their lawyers.
4) I don’t feel comfortable defining a social media presence for someone else. While I’m prepared to promote my business online – and suffer the consequences if I take an unpopular position – it’s just not fair for me to expose my family and friends along the way.
I’m a big fan of using social media as part of my overall marketing strategy. I’m not so inclined to use it in my personal life. While business and professional boundaries blur and overlap, putting my family into the public domain is something I’m going to continue to avoid doing.
What is your opinion about posting personal information in social media channels?
Share This
Post your comment
Comments
-
Hi Gary,
I am aware of creative commons but I didn't know about the support from Creative Commons Australia. That's good to know and thanks for sharing that information here.
As for Facebook, even Paul will admit he should have put a watermark on his photo. In this case, he had been up all night photographing and editing the "Biggest Storm in 50 Years" shots and figured he'd get to it after a good night's rest. Unfortunately, he learned the hard way opportunity strikes quickly.
For me, it's discouraging to think Channel 9 News is hiding behind a technicality. We all know the "right" thing to do. Stealing great photos from a self-employed photographer and refusing to acknowledge his work is very bad form.
Thanks, Gary.Posted by Sarah Mitchell, 30/04/2010 3:18am (2 years ago)
-
You do know that EFA and Creative Commons Australia have a team of lawyers that will reply to letters from big corporates that steal pics under CC and the like. They are very
zealous on this. And have in the past had a lot of success. If it is mandated as under CC Non Commercial than they will take action for you.
Mind you if you put a photo on facebook, consider it gone, as they have rights over it while your account is active.Posted by Gary Barber, 30/04/2010 2:27am (2 years ago)
-
Well it sounds like a lot of us are on the same page.
Susan - Thanks for confirming that a social media presence for work doesn't mean we have to be just as open about our personal lives.
Aussie Locust - I do have a Facebook page that has my photo on it. I still don't feel comfortable putting family photos there. As I said, it's not up to me to decide who has a social media presence and who doesn't. I've had so many photos come across my wall that had only one person in it whom I knew and plenty that I didn't.
Craig - Thanks so much for your kind words. The social media space is huge and everyone is competing for traffic. I decided long ago I just couldn't compete with the big guys. I don't have the time even if it was an aspiration. My goal is to share my experiences and try to be as candid as possible about what works, what doesn't and what I could have done better.
You make a good point about transparency. It's a sensitive point and, as your experience dictates, an area where we can easily be misunderstood.
Thanks for dropping by, everyone.Posted by Sarah Mitchell, 30/04/2010 2:14am (2 years ago)
-
You make some good points there Sarah. I go by the saying "that what happens in Vegas stays on Facebook forever."
Once in the public domain it is there forever.
I know from personal experience of mentioning my work amongst my facebook personal friends then it was seen as a sales ploy, and not taken well. It wasn't my intention , however a certain level of trust was compromised. People in my social circle like to know what I am up to, however they don't want the sales pitch.
I am not a fan of people telling all about their relationship problems or when they had a bowel movement.
Social media I believe is about providing information that of an informational and editorial nature.
I like your blog articles as you don't fill them up with corporate speak and shoot straight from the hip. It is refreshing in a world of social media where often it's more about trying to be popular.Posted by Craig Jenner, 30/04/2010 1:23am (2 years ago)
-
I don't mind it, myself - but I'd suggest maybe having two facebook pages. One for you as a person, and a separate one for your business. (I have three, myself. It may come as a shock - but Aussie Locust isn't actually my name! :p)
Certainly, on my personal page I have photos of me. I'm also very choosy on who my friends are, and I have my privacy settings locked down very tightly.Posted by Aussie Locust, 29/04/2010 11:03pm (2 years ago)
-
I am with you Sarah. I do not know who decided that it should be a rule to share everything, everywhere and with everyone.
I don't and have no intention of starting now.
From what I have read Facebook is opening up more data that used to be private and to third parties. This will increase I believe.
It is not only Facebook, it is also other social media outlets. I think it is up to you what you want to share and with whom just as it is when you are offline.
Posted by Susan Oakes, 29/04/2010 10:48pm (2 years ago)
RSS feed for comments on this page | RSS feed for all comments
