Facebook, Twitter, and What's Left of Your Right to Privacy

We have all become so accustomed to revealing our inner-most secrets to our hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of “friends” on Facebook and Twitter that we seem to have forgotten that in this country we are each born with a constitutional right to privacy.  But like most of our rights, the boundaries of the right to privacy are always being challenged.

The latest challenge to our right to privacy is coming from employers.  It is becoming common for employers to ask for access to your Facebook page, your Twitter feed or whatever social network you’re using.

 Why would your boss want to read your Facebook page?  Companies say that they need to be certain that employees are not disparaging the company publicly or associating with criminals and undesirables.   They say that it's no different than asking you for a list of references or previous employers.  I disagree.  Imagine if when you applied for your job, you were asked for a typed list of at least 200 references.  It sounds ridiculous when you think of it that way, and very few people would agree to it.

 And in case you were thinking, “What’s wrong with letting my boss check out my Facebook page?  I have nothing to hide,” it’s worth considering that what many employers want is for you to “friend” the company so that they can continually monitor your postings.  So when you’re on vacation in South Beach and you post that picture of you winning the wet underwear contest, there’s a chance that your human resource manager is deciding whether your conduct represents a violation of company policy.

 Is it legal to demand access to an employee’s, Facebook page?  Probably not. But there are very few laws that regulate this type of activity. And the laws that do exist are rarely enforced.  Some states have taken notice and have started introducing laws to protect employees, but for now your best defense is to be mindful about what you’re posting on your social network profile.  It’s also a good idea to regularly review your privacy settings.  Remember, unless you set your privacy settings otherwise, most social networking sites default to the most public setting.

 Privacy used to be one of our most cherished rights. Maybe Facebook,Twitter and reality television are beginning to change our idea of privacy.   We have increasingly become an open-access society, with many of us posting our most intimate thoughts and feelings and leaving very little to the imagination.  How this new openness will impact our ability to keep what’s left of our private life truly private is an open question.  But allowing employers to monitor our after-work activities seems like the wrong way to go if we are to protect what remains of the right to privacy that each of us is born with.

Nightlife Continues to Grow and Change into the New Year

The Los Angeles Times had a great article detailing many of the changes to the L.A. nightlife scene.  In spite of the dragging economomy, L.A.'s nightlife continues to expand and morph, maintaining its reputation as a world-wide destination for nighttime fun.

The article points out many new venues including, a posh new European-style clubbing destination in traditionally staid Beverly Hills called Confidential Lounge; the Beverly, which traffics in exclusivity by being open only two nights per week; and Universal CityWalk's upscale Infusion Lounge. On the opposite end of the spectrum were a slew of sleek but comfortable respites from the club scene with intentionally dog-eared edges, including the aforementioned Neat bar where Demarest serves uncut spirits alongside a simple glass of beer or soda; the tame and literary-minded Writer's Room in Hollywood; the loud but boho-lax former pop-up bar Paul & Andre, which migrated from Hollywood to permanent digs in the Standard on the Sunset Strip; the classy but mellow bar at Il Covo, nightlife legend Sean MacPherson and partner Jared Meisler's new Italian restaurant on 3rd Street; and the friendly neighborhood comeback of Revolver, the legendary gay video bar in WeHo.

Not only were there new additions to the club scene in Hollywood, Downtown L.A. continued to show exponential growth as Angelenos were drawn to new venues such as One-Eyed Gypsy and Salvage.  Los Angeles nightlife in 2012 continues the trend, with new openings and imaginative remodels as L.A.'s nightlife scene grows up and finally begins to successfully compete with Las Vegas and New York as a true destination for hipsters, celebrities, and party-goers around the world.

Don't Ask Santa for a DUI (because you might just get one)

The holidays are here again.  That means lots of holiday parties where the alcohol will be flowing freely.  There are many ways to drink responsibly this holiday season.  Here are just a few to remember as you head out to the office party or to your favorite nightclub or restaurant:

1. Have a designated driver (maybe pay for dinner or a movie for a tea-totalling friend of yours in exchange for a ride home after a night of drinking).

2.  Take a cab. No matter the cost, it'll be cheaper than a DUI.

3.  Don't drink on an empty stomach.

4.  Pace yourself and don't try to "keep up" with how much your friends are drinking.

5.  If you begin to feel drunk, stop drinking.

These are just a few of the many ways that you can save yourself from the financial, career and social trauma that often comes from getting a DUI conviction during the holidays.  Have a safe and happy holiday season.

New Guidelines for Alcohol Brands Using Social Media

Alcohol brands wanting to use social networks, blogs, mobile apps and user-generated content will have to follow new guidelines, set out by the organisations in Europe and the US, from 30 September.

Susan Irby, The Bikini Chef radio show

Here's the link to the radio show where I discuss safe drinking and DUIs, in case you missed it.