Keeping Your Personal Facebook Account? Tips for Servicemembers
With 1.44 billion users, Facebook has entered the lives of people the world over – including many active military servicemembers. If you’re keeping your Facebook up to date while serving, it is important to remember that items you post may be viewed by people beyond your personal friends list, especially if you post items with a “public” view setting. Your social media activity may also be used against you if you are charged with a violation under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Here are some tips for handling your Facebook presence wisely:
1. Stand for more than yourself.
You may think of your Facebook page as a place to be you and only you – but civilians who see your posts see you as someone who represents the military, especially if your rank is visible in your posts. Think about how you want others to see not only you, but those you work with every day, and post accordingly.
2. Understand privacy controls.
When you post a photo to Facebook, who can see it? What’s the difference between the “Friends” and “Friends except acquaintances” setting – and how do you change it when you comment on your own feed? Get acquainted with Facebook’s privacy controls and use them to protect your contributions to the site.
3. Never, ever talk about trouble brewing.
It’s normal to reach out to friends when you expect to be facing trouble. But if you have reason to suspect an upcoming criminal investigation or other adverse action, stay silent about it on social media. Instead, talk to your attorney about your concerns.
Attorney Joseph H. Low IV focuses on aggressively defending servicemembers who have been charged with a crime under the UCMJ or similar rules. If you’re facing an investigation or charges, don’t wait: contact our office today for a confidential case evaluation.