News

AF officials encourage careful use of social networking sites

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Vann Miller
  • 78th ABW/PA
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Friendster and Twitter continue to attract new patrons from around the world. And as Airmen find themselves becoming more computer savvy with each passing moment, more of them are finding their own connections to this new digital water cooler.

With the emergence of this new means of "reaching out" comes a concern for military members and their leaders, according to Robins Air Force Base's Area Defense Counsel.

"With increasing technology and the boom in social networking sites, we should be cognizant of what we post on the Internet and send via e-mail," said Capt. Jennifer Powell, ADC at Robins.

Not only do members have to remember the ever-present need to practice operational security and computer security, they have to keep in mind a legal truism, 'what you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.'

Social networking Web sites as a whole receive more user traffic than many popular Web search engines today. And, in a report published on Economist.com, one of the newest social networking sites has become so popular that its revenues are projected to be about $140 million by 2010. In the same report, MySpace was estimated to have earned more than $490 million in ad revenue just this year. So, with all the popularity, it's no wonder why many Airmen are drawn to this phenomenon.

Powell reminds military members and employees that the Internet can potentially be a permanent record of the text and photos posted there.

"Sometimes we forget that once we post something on the Internet, we can't take it back," the captain said. "We would never want to post something on the Internet under the assumption that no one is going to see it. When in doubt whether something is questionable, take a step back and ask yourself what your grandmother would think if she saw it. Get advice from someone you respect or just don't post that particular item on the Internet."

Because of the varying content found on many social networking sites, many of them are blocked from government computers. But, that hasn't deterred Air Force leaders from encouraging their usage to help tell the Air Force's story and reach wider audiences.

For example, Air Education and Training Command launched its own Facebook page in August. And, in July, NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, Navy Adm. James Stavridis commemorated his first day on the job by posting a blog.

Still, a new instructional guide recently released on the Knowledge Now site entitled New Media and the Air Force, says "Airmen should note that anytime they engage in social media, they are representing the Air Force, and therefore should not do anything that will discredit themselves or the Air Force." Powell agrees with this.

"Because we are on duty 24-7, we represent the Air Force 24-7 and that means additional expectations," she said. "You may post a seemingly sarcastic remark or funny photograph on a friend's Facebook wall to later realize that someone thought you were literal and may have been really offended. Remember, another person's perception is their reality and that can negatively affect your military career in the long run."