Several weeks ago I came home after an evening out to several messages that my Twitter account had been compromised. 68 of my loyal followers were now getting tweets about a new weight loss break through.
Immediately, I changed my admin password hoping that a major crisis had been averted. As a tech professional, my initial thoughts focused on security and how could this happen to me. For a short period I had various grief symptoms: anger, guilt, denial, and shame. I thought this would be a good time to remind all of an earlier security blog posting on “Simple Security“.
The idea of expanded communication and connections with others is fascinating and heartwarming; I felt that the potential was unlimited. This is further augmented by the fact that the communication tools (social media) are linked to together; I appreciated the linked technology when I posted a blog, listed an event, or sent out a newsletter that Word Press, Biznik, and Constant Contact posted a tweet to my 68 followers.
The interconnected apps greatly expanded the capabilities of social media tools by linking those programs; my Android phone nicely supplies photos of all of my LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, and Twitter accounts regardless of my connection to the person. Not to mention these applications on our phones actively keep track of where we are at all times, “Check In”.
While these features are neat and cute, each connection is a point in which the security can be compromised. Note: When I changed my Twitter password I also disabled other applications having access to my Twitter account.
Wait a minute!
I’ve never liked Twitter and I’m not sure what can really be said in 140 characters.
Getting hacked is cause for me to review my use of social media and my expectations. Beyond our fascination with technology and its cuteness why are we using social media? I know the Arab spring was bolstered by the “Twitter-verse” and other political endeavors have been spurred but are we engaging in social media as a tool or a toy. The garbage I see is the primarily the product of those who view social media tools as toys.
Let’s start at the beginning. First it was Facebook which was fairly intuitive and before I know it I’m connected to Family I hadn’t talked to years, met young cousins who were babies when I left Kansas, old connections from High School and College, and numerous business connections.
The fascination began to wear off when I realized that I didn’t really want to “friend” some old acquaintances from high school. Further, some of my cousins and former classmates were enamored by Facebook apps and games to the point of irritation that I blocked all games and apps.
More than eliminating a distraction, I am concerned that the apps and games compromise the security of user accounts and can potential be a source of infections for user laptops.
Yes, I know that the twitter-verse can be managed through Tweet Deck, Hoot Suite, and others but my concern is that not only Twitter but also Facebook, LinkedIn, and others which allow for intertwining applications also permit and transfer security access between applications all using a single security credential. I read the Wall street journal and I can share using Twitter or Facebook; LinkedIn allows sharing through Twitter and Constant Contact; and Word Press social plugins allow users and readers to share blogs to any number of social sites all from a single point of security.
Managing social media has always been tricky, more than just putting up a website; there are lots of people who want to teach us how to manage our internet presence from developing websites (Is Word Press the answer?), incorporating a Facebook Business Page (Did you run a contest to get others to name your Facebook Page or did you give away a prize?), and cross pollinating your Twitter traffic (Did you automate you twitter chatter with Hoot Suite or Tweet Deck?). What about LinkedIn or Biznik?
Are you tracking your numbers? As I talked to someone about this article they sent me a link to another social media management app called Bottlenose. What kind of name is that?
What am I doing? When I really look at my involvement I recognize that I was looking for a simpler way to market my services and connect with a lot more people, but all of these Internet approaches seem to miss an important aspect of marketing; the human connection.
I don’t get it; even on dating sites-people have to at least challenge their narcissism and meet face to face once in a while. Let’s face it, although social media provides some new ways to market nothing beats establishing and maintaining a solid human connection. For those of us who want to focus on small business, walking in the door is the best way to meet “Mom and Pop”. Unfortunately small business continues to get defined as a subset of the big business market but not by those of us who get up and go to work daily. I recognize the value of many friends but who makes up your market?.
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