Keeping It Professional(ish) Online

Here I was, just minding my business and browsing through our reading list, when—bam!—Gerald C. Kane hit me with an article that had me hooked. The title? “The Evolutionary Implications of Social Media for Organizational Knowledge Management.” Yes, it’s a mouthful, but what articles aren't? 

Kane dives deep into the usual suspects: cloud sharing, our addiction to constant connectivity, and all the techy things that make our modern work lives tick. But the part that really piqued this girl’s interest? The blurred lines between our personal and professional lives thanks to social media. Cue the Law & Order intro song. 

Now, if you’re anything like me, you were raised with the gospel of don’t post anything online that you wouldn’t want your future boss to see. Red Solo cups? Banned. Beer bottles? Burned. Even a mildly wild selfie at Chili’s on a Friday night could cost you your $8/hour job slinging sandwiches at Subway when you were 17. We lived in fear. 

But then social media grew up with us. Privacy settings got slicker. We learned how to curate who sees what. And now? I hit “close friends” on Instagram stories like it’s a reflex. Shoutout to my current job where my boss doesn’t believe in social media, #Blessed 

Still, if he ever joined the digital party, I’d be strategic. He’s getting LinkedIn. Maybe Facebook if I’m feeling generous. But Insta? TikTok? Snapchat? That’s sacred space, sir. 

Of course, this gets complicated with coworkers—especially the cool ones you hang out with outside of the office. We share memes, margaritas, and mental breakdowns via Instagram DMs. But plot twist: what happens when your happy hour bestie Becky from the cubicle next door gets promoted? The same Becky who just posted a boomerang of her slurping Jello shots on the 4th of July? 

Kane brings up a solid point here. The more we mix our social and professional circles online, the messier it gets when those relationships shift. It’s giving, “Congrats on the promo but also please don’t scroll too far back on my timeline.” 

So where’s the line? When do we go from carefree posting to suddenly worrying that your brunch mimosa pic might end up in your performance review? 

Personally, I say: live your life and lock your settings. Social media should reflect who you are, but there’s no shame in setting digital boundaries. Keep Becky on your close friends list, keep your boss on LinkedIn, 

Because at the end of the day, your social media is your space. Just make sure your jello shots don’t end up in your quarterly evaluation. 🥴✨ 

 

The vibe me and Becky catch at the local Chili’s with our 2 for 1 margs. 

 

 

UsherVEVO. (2015, April 17). Usher - Yeah! (Official Video) ft. Lil Jon, Ludacris. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxBSyx85Kp8&list=RDQMjcW5kj_6bFE