The Five-Second Challenge: Why are you posting that?

"People just don't stop to think before they post things online."

That quote from our IT manager, Alan Jones, came out of a conversation he and I had months ago about online privacy and security. It's a simple truth that can change your entire outlook on social media.

And thus was born the Five-Second Challenge.

Here's how it works: Next time you're about to post a Facebook status, Twitter update or blog comment, pause for five seconds.

At worst, it might help you think of a better way to phrase things. At best, it might stop you from writing something that could have unintended consequences — like identity theft, hurt feelings, embarrassment or burglary.

A few things you might ask yourself in that five seconds:

• Why am I writing this?
• Am I giving away private info about myself or my family?
• Would I ever say this to a stranger on the street?
• Am I revealing my travel plans or otherwise showing when I'm not home?
• Am I just bragging to impress people?
• How will I feel if my boss sees this?
• What about a client?
• This will live on the Web forever. Am I cool with that?
• Am I adding to the sum of human knowledge?
• Does anyone really give a crap?

OK, so I doubt you'll have time to tackle all that. But you get the idea.

I've tried my best to do this since that talk with Alan months ago. And you know what? I've probably deleted a fourth of the updates I've started to write. Oh, I doubt they would have done any damage. But they also wouldn't have had any benefit to anyone whatsoever.

So take the Five-Second Challenge and let me know how it goes.

The goal isn't to make you paranoid or to suck all the fun out of social media. But if it makes you a little more cautious and insightful, then I'd say it's five seconds well spent.

Today's photo credit: motleypixel on Flickr.

Comments

[KatFrench]

You know, I sort of unintentionally do this a lot. I'll start to post something, get interrupted, and then decide when I get back to it that it either wasn't something I wanted to post, or realize there's a better way to say it.

Good thoughts--and the 2nd and 4th bullets remind me I was planning on writing a detailed post on online privacy soon. Probably need to revisit that topic--it's not going away any time soon.

[Scott]

David, That's the dumbest damn thing that. . . Oh wait a second..umm.. nevermind. ;-)

Good thoughts. If everyone did this the quality of posts on Twitter would improve dramatically. I find myself deleting self-serving comments on occasion.

[Christina Viering]

I find it strange people post so much personal info on the internet. I completely agree with your advice, the internet can cause a ot of destruction, and people don't seem to care.

[Stuart Foster]

Cause I want mad bank isn't an option? Damn...

[KissMyBlackAds]

Heeeey, being on KissMyBlackAds is not such a bad 'Life's Goal'!!!

Glad I could oblige you.