Social Media Scrutiny

There’s a reason why “Happy Hour” was created, working a 9-5 can be stressful, exhausting and it can make you downright sad at times. Taking the professional mask off at the end of day to enjoy libations, vacations, and letting loose is what gives most of us the necessary charge we need to get through the next work day, but with camera phones and everyone waiting to upload the next viral video, enjoying yourself outside of work is becoming a much more challenging task.

There was a recent post online that described how a young teacher was fired from her job because she was simply enjoying her spring break. Upon viewing the video, it seemed appalling that this woman lost her livelihood for kicking back. She did not appear to be out of control, belligerent or causing anyone harm. She was just dancing, or what some may call “twerking”, in a setting where it was appropriate. Someone recorded the event, posted it online, and cost this woman her job. The woman in her early twenties was only doing what she should at her age and that is to enjoy life. Have we come to the point where we can’t even be our true selves outside the workplace, because you’re at risk of losing your job, for doing something on your free time? One could compare that to slavery, at least a slave of social media. The shackles of a 9-5 are already tight enough, and now this extends to our personal lives???

But indeed it does, the days of “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” are long gone, because whatever you’re doing that may be compromising runs the risk of being recorded and shared. We have to be extremely careful of how we conduct ourselves as unfair as it may be. We should be released to do as we please, (as long as it’s not harmful to oneself or others),  once outside the workplace. We should not be so tense, worried about our personal lives being scrutinized.

So what’s the solution??? Maybe there should be some type of privacy act in place for these types of situations. Especially, if you’re not the one who uploaded the video that you’re being punished for. Maybe there can be a way to protect individuals in law from consequences in cases such as a disgruntled exes posting naked pics of you, or a good time being uploaded

. The solution isn’t clear, but the fact of the matter is once our suits and uniforms come off, we should be FREE to enjoy ourselves as we see fit.