THE term Social Media is mentioned in reference to online networking platforms as Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Keek, Pinterest and a hundred or so others too numerous to mention. These websites are largely used for communicating, sharing information, networking and inquiring among persons of various backgrounds, origins, profession and status – familiar or otherwise. Personally, I have a preference for calling it Digital Social Media, as the name (Social Media) naturally, may be implied to a conventional/physical medium, facilitated for the intention of networking; like cocktails, fairs or even carnivals. However, for the purpose of public discourse as this, I will stick to the ‘norm’.

There’s no gainsaying that reputation is something that a person, brand, business or service will strive to uphold on highest regards, and at the expense of almost anything. On an ontological viewpoint, the Holy Bible reiterates in Proverbs 22:1, that “A good name is more desirable than great riches…” The term “desirable” here emphasizes man’s craving in time, to showcase an appealing civic character to the people (s)he is momentarily concerned with.

Without meaning to sound theological, the point being buttressed here is that the notion of reputation is embedded in the existential nature of man. This can also be inferred from Thomas Hobbes’ moral and political philosophy of “Self Preservation”, where he postulates self preservation as fundamental, natural and instinctive. According to Hobbes, Self Preservation is man’s first law of nature.

In the wake of digital age, where blogs replace tabloid/print, text messages and emails replace letters and courier, and social networking platforms replace cocktails, seminars and in modern times, even job interviews, there is need for an evaluation as how social media is optimally utilized, to our desired use and advantage. The free-to-use, ungoverned exposure, which social media avails us, enables freedom of expression (as it should be) – which is the opportunity to communicate what we want to, how we want to. The question we ask ourselves here is: to what extent can we express ourselves without smearing a professional or social reputation it has taken us years to build?

As a believer of popular culture and several social perspectives, which advocate spontaneity and ‘being you’ at all times, I am of the opinion that since we cannot entirely change who we truly are, we can try to make the best of those weaknesses we possess, when the need arises. Also, given man’s mortal vulnerability and the social factors as influence and conformity, humans are likely to have certain characters or indulge in practices we cannot exude to our publics.

Lately, the practice by parents or employers who use social media to inquire into a person’s life have found its commonplace, as a means to satisfy curiosity or the lead on an investigation, as the case may be. Louise Whitman in her online post: “False identity through social media”, expressed that the conventional person hates being mislead; and that there are high tendencies the media conveyor will be found out as deceptive, in a matter of time. Quoting Whitman, “if you are trying to impress someone – just be yourself. If they are not impressed with who you are – they are simply not worth the bother.” She went on and wrote that employers (rightly or wrongly) can check your social media profiles “and I have heard of people being dismissed due to inappropriate (company deemed) behaviour”.

In the circumstance above, the ethical issues, which arise are that of principle and privacy. For instance, there is a tendency that the owner of a Facebook page who uploads pictures of wonderful times shared while drinking beers with old college friends, every weekend; may be tagged as the “office drunk”, if investigated by his workplace executives. On the other hand, he obliges himself and society at large, the values of being a non-pretentious, honest individual; who cherishes pictorial memories of hanging out with friends at the local bar. His loyalty may therefore abound in keeping his job and reputation therein – or enjoying self-satisfaction as the social being he is.

On the issue of privacy, there is much debate as to what is actually private on social media – since getting information via the ‘exceedingly public’ cyberspace is just as easy as peering out your window, to a mega billboard. In this regard, how much and for how long can we project this virtual hypocrisy on who we truly are or aren’t?

In my distinguished opinion, an application to Aristotle’s “Golden Mean” tends to salve such moral or social dilemmas. The theory accentuates knowing how much of something is needed in any case and in what exact proportion it needs to be done; to balance the harmony of life and your happiness in the long run. Reason is the keyword here. Do you have to do it? How much or to what extent must you do it? What is to be derived from it? And how will it affect you (positively or otherwise)?

Prudence, or the act of personally controlled values, is what should guide our social actions or undertakings – and this may be applied to information of ourselves we divulge in the form of image and text, via social media platforms. For instance, peering into my Facebook and Twitter profiles reveal that I am a Public Relations practitioner, Digital Marketing enthusiast, and a music loving family man with a devotion to current affairs and motorcycle sports. Delving deeper into my comments and tweets may show my love for heavy-metal rock music, Southpark television episodes (an adult cartoon series, infamous for gore and vulgarities) and occasionally, a somewhat unpatriotic displeasure with political affairs in my country.

This goes to say that there is only so much we can conceal when we take to personal, non-corporate social media for communicating our no-holds-barred expressions. My concluding question is: what do we really have to hide about ourselves, and why? After all, you are who they say you are.

• George, a Digital PR practitioner, currently resides in Lagos.