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The Perils of Social Networking

I've always been a heart on my sleeve kind of guy - I can get a bit ranty about certain subjects, and my attitude has always been "take it or leave it". As we all have no doubt discovered, the internet and - more importantly - social networks like Facebook and Twitter, have been the perfect outlet for concentrated balls of rage like myself. Nerdrage is a modern phenomenon, and it applies to all forms of media - people are just as passionate about music as they are about comics, cinema and videogames. Now that companies and marketing organisations have seen the benefit of social networking, it's becoming harder and harder to vent spleen.

Point in case, I never for one moment thought that working in PR would affect my online persona. But in four short months, my behaviour has changed dramatically. At the beginning of last year I would think nothing of launching a vitriolic attack on a stand up comedian who made an arse out of themselves on Never Mind The Buzzcocks (hypothetically speaking). Now, I have to stop and check myself: who's going to read this? Could this potentially offend somebody I work with? Is there a chance I may meet this person in the near future?

If any of these criteria are met, I need to retire to my office, pick up my favourite cushion and beat seven shades of stuffing out of it until I feel better.

It's not just myself who needs to be aware of their online presence, and the impression it gives out to the masses - we live in an age where personal branding is king, and bands and artists can all too easily type themselves out of that breakthrough interview or feature in a well known print magazine just because of a drunken Friday night tweet where they shared just that little bit too much about their social life.

While it's depressing to come to terms with, not all of us can be Henry Rollins. There's by no means a need for people to split their lives into a mind bendingly complicated duality where they construct an online avatar that "represents" them online, but sometimes it is a good idea to have a good hard think before you press send.