Personal Branding Online

And why you should avoid sharing what isn’t yours to share

For many, social media has become a primary source of communication over the years. In many ways, it has transformed into a platform to keep friends and family updated on our lives, to get news, and to stay connected. But what happens when your personal information gets shared without your consent?

At first glance, it might sound like I am referring to having your accounts being hacked and shared with the masses, but in most cases, it is often someone close to you that decides to air your business with the world whether you like it or not.

For the most part, this seems to be an unavoidable reality in a world of online sharing, and in most cases, it is all relatively harmless. But what used to be someone sharing your whereabouts and activities with a few friends has turned into public announcements that live on forever.

A recent article by Alyssa Baily with ELLE magazine talked about Gweneth Paltrow’s daughter’s response to a photo she posted on Instagram.

The photo in question was harmless enough, but regardless of her wishes to share it herself, her photo was shared with over 5.4 million strangers.

Now, I know most of us don’t have millions of followers like Paltrow, but even so, our privacy and ability to control what is shared with the public should be taken into consideration.

The point of this story narrows down to this: think twice before you post whether it involves personal or professional content, particularly when you are sharing content that might not be yours to share in the first place.

Personal branding can be a tricky thing, so it’s important to not only consider what it is your sharing about yourself, but also to always consider what you are sharing about others.

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