Just today, I was reading an article on CNN where a tourist from New York was arrested in Hawaii after he posted beach pictures on Instagram, when it seems, he was supposed to be in quarantine. 

With the ever increasing presence of social media applications, it seems like- anything we say or do easily becomes public knowledge… and everyone feels they have a ‘right to express their opinion’, even though in ordinary terms, it could be construed as mean, rude or even legally punishable- defamation!
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Governments in many countries routinely monitor social media activity to not only catch terrorists and other anti-social elements, but also to ensure that their citizens are abiding by the rules and norms of their region. For e.g. it is very well-known that CRA (Canadian Revenue Agency) routinely checks its resident’s public profile and matches it with their tax filing details to ensure their reported income is in sync with their touted lifestyle.

Companies are now checking potential employees’ social interaction to determine their true match with the organization’s vision and work culture. Many individuals have lost an otherwise viable opportunity because the hiring organization was uncomfortable with their social feed or network engagement. 
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Social media is a two-edged sword- on one side, it allows us to showcase our personality, create and express our own unique personal brand, which just until a few years ago, was reserved famous people and pop celebrities. And on the other hand, it leaves us exposed to a constant barrage of unsolicited feedback and demoralizing opinions.

Handle your social media presence like you would handle your own personal brand. If an information is not something that you could share with a casual acquaintance or work colleague, then do not share it with your social network.
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Remember- being aware of your social interaction, will not only help you to build a strong personal brand that you can leverage for your own advancement, but it will also ensure that you do not lose opportunities or get into any kind of trouble with government authorities.

​Sandhya Bhat MSc, CSSMBB, CSSE has developed several new (under patent filing) and enhanced existing strategic methodologies to improve technology and human capital utilization, produce greater ROI on investments and streamline service delivery. She is an acclaimed author, speaker, a sought after thought leader and an avid world traveler.

​#socialmedia #socialnetwork #socialprofile #personalbrand #branding #strategicbranding

​Learning social media marketing skills has become important in today's "plugged in" age!

​Here are some tips on how best to convey your message and conduct yourself on social media, so as to win likes and faithful followers.

​Once impressed by your cause/message these followers will champion your brand.

​#SocialMediaMarketing #OnlineMarketing #SellingwithSocialMedia