A reminder of the power and peril of social media

There are many wonderful things about social media - access to information, opportunities for new relationships without traditional time and distance limitaions, interaction and community. At the same time. the ability to community with the world instantly comes with cost - that you might communicate something you regret.

There are many wonderful things about social media – access to information, opportunities for new relationships without traditional time and distance limitaions, interaction and community.  At the same time. the ability to community with the world instantly comes with cost – that you might communicate something you regret.  

This happened to well-known designer Kenneth Cole recently.  Cole sent out this tweet:

Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online.

Yes, he really said that.  First, he apologized for it on Twitter, then deleted the tweet and apologized in more detail on Facebook.  Obviously, deleting the tweet does not erase it from our minds.  It apparently has made quite an impact.  Will there be serious damage to the Kenneth Cole brand?  It seems possible.  Shelly Kramer on ragan.com asks the question: Did Kenneth Cole commit brand suicide on Twitter? and Social Media Erupts over Kenneth Cole Tweet.

All from one tweet.  Instant communication with thousands of people.  Be careful what you tweet, it doesn’t go away.

**^*  Are you bothered enough by Kenneth Cole’s tweet to stop buying his clothing?

Posted by Shawn Roberts

On this blog, I write about and try to answer practical Oklahoma legal questions. My focus and most experience is in estate planning and business issues including Oklahoma non-compete law. I make a living as an attorney in the law firm I founded, Shawn J. Roberts, P.C. in Oklahoma City. I live in Edmond with my wife Amy and my two children, Sam (19) and David (11). We live precisely in the path of where the "wind comes sweeping down the plains."

1 comment

Tweets that mention A reminder of the power and peril of social media « Shawn J. Roberts -- Topsy.com
February 4, 2011

[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Shawn Roberts, Sonia Webb. Sonia Webb said: RT @shawnJroberts: A reminder of the power and peril of social media « from @KennethCole http://bit.ly/gtkUt1 […]