Facebook: To What Degree Should Private and Public Lives Be Separated?

Several passages in The Networked Nonprofit discuss organizations’ reluctance to use social media. In the book, the authors indicate that people’s desire to separate their private and public lives can be an obstacle to organizations’ effective use of social media. I witnessed a situation in which this obstacle was apparent.

During my attendance at an organization’s retreat, potential ways to increase staff members’ knowledge about current trends in their field were discussed. One person suggested using Facebook as a way to share articles, links, etc. with each other that were relevant to the field. This suggestion was quickly opposed by someone who said that not everyone within the organization knew how to use Facebook. The same person who made this statement added that she would not necessarily want to be Facebook “friends” with her co-workers, with the implication being that she would like to keep her private life separate from her professional/public life.

After reading the first part of The Networked Nonprofit, I’m not entirely sure if I understand the authors’ stance on the degree to which people’s public and private lives should be kept separate with the use of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. The authors seem to applaud employees who reveal authentic tidbits about themselves on social networking sites in the following paragraph:

Julia Rocchi is the online communications manager for the United Nations Foundation. She tweets and blogs for the organization with the support of senior management. Her self-description on Twitter reads this way: “Big hair, big mouth, big plans. Writer, blogger, and Online Communications Officer at United Nations Foundation. Will hug/cook/travel at will.” Julia is demonstrating straightaway that she is a real person who has likes and passions and even flaws. (p. 55)

On the following page of the book, however, the authors cite the following common sense social media policy to abide by: “Avoid ‘Friending’ your boss and any of his/her teenage children, nieces, or nephews.” This statement implies that it is important to keep one’s private and professional lives separate.

Based on the abovementioned passages and others throughout the book, it seems as though the authors send some mixed messages about what is acceptable and what is not when using social media within an organization. Perhaps the reason their messages seem mixed is because there is a fine line between what is acceptable and what is not. Do you think that people should have two separate Facebook accounts – one for personal use, and one for professional use? Or is it alright for co-workers to “Friend” each other with their personal accounts to share organization-related information?

- Kate