London - Once in a while, we’re all guilty of over-sharing. But with the rise of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, millions of us do it on a daily basis.
A survey has found that many feel guilty about providing TMI – too much information – on websites where their updates and photographs can be viewed with ease.
The study into the online habits of 2,000 over-18s found that a third regretted putting photographs or personal details online.
One in ten said they had been taken aside by their boss after complaining about work on the web, while the most common regret was posting photographs of drunken behaviour. One in 20 said they had missed out on jobs because employers were put off by photos they saw online.
Others regretted using bad language, uploading photos of themselves in revealing clothing and sharing their relationship status with online contacts, including friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter.
A spokesman for marketing agency White Hat Media, which commissioned the study, said: “It can be hard to remember what followers you have, and who you might be comfortable sharing intimate details with.
“Moaning about a hard day at work might not go down well with the boss or work colleagues, and posting pictures of a night out when you’ve claimed you’re busy to someone else will also cause problems.”
More than a third of respondents said they would be embarrassed if their family members saw certain posts or photos of theirs on social networks, and three in ten confided that they often looked back on their updates and cringed.
More than half admitted they should be more careful about the information they share online. The spokesman added: “There are a few steps you can take to make sure your online reputation is protected. For instance, regularly review your privacy settings and bear in mind that most posts are open to public view.
“If there is any doubt in your mind about whether the content you are sharing could be damaging, or construed as offensive in any way, then quite simply don’t share it.
“If you wouldn’t want your mum to see what you post, then you probably wouldn’t want future or current employers to see it either.” - Daily Mail