We all know the “power of the internet,” but do we realize to what extent this can actually be defined?
In the modern world we now have capabilities to experience life virtually. Who would have thought it would be feasible to hire a Virtual Assistant working from Finland when your office is in Chicago. Or the task of advertising, interviewing and hiring a new employee from the comforts of your living room without even “dressing” to go to your office. Or acquiring a client relocating to your area who purchases a new condo “virtually,” sight unseen, via emails and telephone calls. What about finding your spouse virtually “on-line?” The networking abilities afforded by websites such as Myspace, Facebook, and ActiveRain, have enabled us socially and professionally to make contacts never imagined. There are volumes of benefits that have been reaped through our our new “e-world.” But have we realized the damage that can also be incurred. In a split second misinformation can travel the world like a ray of light. This faulty information can wreak havoc, if not destroy a major corporation.
An example of this damage occurred yesterday when an analyst “googled” United Airlines and found an ARCHIVED article describing that they were to be filing bankruptcy. Without confirming this was a current event, in minutes this information was posted on a website that hit the trading floors and brought down United’s Stock from $12 to $3 in less than one (1) hour, before halting trading, at a loss of over $1 billion dollars in value.
See actual NY Times Article:
So even for those that are not professional news reporters or writers, realize your power and accept your responsibility in writing or forwarding verified information. How many times have you seen forwarded emails that were falsified and passed on prior to anyone confirming their truth? Remember how your chats, your comments on sites, your blogs, your personal MySpace or social networking pages are all going to “cyber space” and expect they may be seen across the ocean in another country in minutes or by your client, your child or your boss.
Realize that you cannot retract something
once you hit that “send” button.
Live Virtually BUT Responsibly
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