TMPR’s Taft Matney Discusses Congressman Sanford’s Social Media Sharing with 7 On Your Side’s Addie Hampton
September 18, 2014
Former South Carolina governor and current US House member Mark Sanford recently took to his congressional Facebook account to offer a 2346 word update because, “One, in as much as you sign my paycheck and you have elected me to represent you in Washington, I think I owe you my thinking on this personal, but now public matter.”
No. He wasn’t talking about healthcare, tax policy, midterm elections, or the threat we face from ISIS / ISIL. He wasn’t talking about anything relating to government policy, his issue positions, or his reelection campaign.
Instead, he opened up about his divorce from former wife Jenny. He detailed her lawsuits against him — for money, for child visitation, and for restrictions on his alleged activity. He also publicly ended his engagement to the former Argentine TV reporter for whom he left his family and state when he famously “hiked the Appalachian Trail” in 2009.
If you read any of Sanford’s post, chances are you wanted to reach through the computer / tablet / smart phone screen and hit the “Delete Post” option. It was like watching a plane in a tailspin about to crash.
None of that is what this post is about, although it is the catalyst for the free advice that’s coming.
Social media is a powerful tool. It allows people to reconnect with old friends and keep in touch with ones they may not often see. It allows industry and thought leaders to promote emerging trends. It allows companies to tout their successes and mitigate damage to negative news. It promotes the advancement of free-flowing debate of news and ideas. It provides a forum for grassroots activists to engage in the public policy process and rally their troops for a cause. It allows candidates and elected officials a way to communicate and connect with supporters and detractors and promote their campaigns and policy agendas.
Like any tool, social media can have a positive or negative impact based on its use — both intended and unintended.
Congressman Sanford’s 2346 word missive was an example of what NOT to do (as covered in Upstate SC by Addie Hampton of WSPA-TV / 7 On Your Side).
During the 2012 election cycle, “The Onion” parodied that “A troubling report finds that by 2040 every presidential candidate will be unelectable to political office due to their embarrassing Facebook posts.” The video was funny but also illustrated how as a culture we have become overly comfortable with “sharing” every detail of our lives without regard for the potential public consequences.
Again, social media CAN BE a powerful and positive resource, and we strongly urge clients to implement a social media strategy as a part of their overall communications plans, but the key term is “strategy.”
THINK before you post.
- Is your post beneficial to you or your brand?
- Will your post help advance your communications objectives?
- Will your post promote your product, service, issue, policy, or idea?
- Does your post reflect positively on you, your family, your friends, your company, or your campaign / elected office?
- Would your family, friends, employers (past, current, or potential), employees (past, current, or potential), or constituents (past, current, or potential) view your post favorably?
- Is there a chance you’ll reflect on your post in the future and have regrets about launching it in to the wild?
These are all things to consider, and if there’s ANY part of you — whether you’re a high school freshman, a mom, a CEO, or a United States congressman — that thinks regret may come in to play later, step away from the keyboard or put down your mobile device.
You can always come back and post your thoughts later if you decide it’s a good idea, but you can’t take it back after you put it out there for the world to see.
