Mediaboss Marketing

July 9, 2012, 6:19 AM PDT

Takeaway: Social networking has had a huge impact on how we communicate and interact but some people refuse to get caught up in the trend. Alan Norton explains why hes one of them.

I have a confession to make. I dont do social networking. Thats not that unusual for someone my age. Just 8% of all Facebook users fall into my age group. Nonetheless, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, social networking is popular and still growing. While only 8% of adult Internet users used social networking sites in 2005, that number had grown to 65% by 2011. Why then do some people in general and older Internet users in particular avoid social networking services? I can give you 10 reasons why this experienced ancient one doesnt use them.

The recent IPO of Facebook wasnt as successful as its backers wanted. But it was successful bringing to the publics attention Facebooks privacy concerns. I, like many others, dont fully understand how serious those concerns are. It does make for a great excuse though to avoid Facebook altogether. Putting your personal information in the care of others, no matter how diligent their stewardship, increases your risk of that information getting into the hands of third parties.

Our image is, in part, defined by our words. Each of us should ask how much of ourselves we want to give to people we dont even know. Once gone, that private piece of our lives can never be retrieved.

Who actually owns and who controls your intellectual content that you post is not as clear as you might think. Terms vary by social networking service, but typically you give up control of how your content may be used. Which raises the question: If you dont control it, do you really own it? It isnt clear who legally owns your content. The Twitter Terms of Service as of July 4, 2012, clearly states that you own the content you post:

You retain your rights to any Content you submit, post or display on or through the Services.But whats yours is yours you own your Content (and your photos are part of that Content).

According to a New York judge, however, Twitter owns your Tweets. That should at least cause you to pause before posting anything at any site other than your own. I am not a lawyer, but it appears that the legal ownership of your Tweets and other posted content may not be fully determined for years.

Social networking offers an easy way to meet people perhaps too easy. No commitment is required, and you can invest as much or as little of your time as you wish. Social networking services can be a great way to keep people at a distance: Interact only when and where you want with whom you want. That may be great for some people. I prefer more meaningful ways to interact, like face-to-face and over the phone. People value your full attention and time. Social interaction is only as rewarding as you are willing to make it, whether in person or online.

There is that risqu limerick you shared while in high school or those embarrassing statements you made about a former employer that can be found with a simple Web search. Pity the poor job interviewee grilled by an interviewer who did his homework and found your ignorance, or worse, the bad information you posted about a topic for which you are supposed to be an expert. If you must post, practice safe posting. Of course, abstinence means never having to say youre sorry.

See the original post here:
10 reasons why I avoid social networking services