This is a direct lift from our friend Tony Fish. Tony is one of the globes leading thinkers on digital priavcy, the author of several well received books including My Digital Footprint and he somehow finds time to runs the successful networking programme mashup.

New Social Rules for Living in a Digital Age

If we sit back and reflect on current digital services, such as social media, we could conclude they are a game e.g If Twitter is about getting the best quip of the day or providing some useful info,  Linkedin is about proving "my network is bigger than yours", and Facebook is about sharing that "I have a more interesting life than you"; then there must be some new rules for these new games, but what are they? Before we examine some suggested new rules, it is worth confirming and stating that all of the old/existing rules of social engagement are still valid, relevant and have not been washed away by this new digital age. A few examples of classic handed down rules that are timeless would include:-

1.       Don't gossip, make things up, slander, steal, pinch or lie

2.       Have evidence and be professional, factual, accurate, honest, and transparent

3.       Engage and treat others how you want to be treated yourself

4.       Opinions are personal, be gracious, open, respectful and accepting of differences

Whilst all the old rules of social engagement exist, regulation does need some "modernising" as democracy, understanding and technology have advanced significantly since they were written.  Examples of regulation that would appreciate some new impetus would include: Privacy, Identity, Liberty, Harm, Consequences, Ownership, Access and Rights.

Realities for living and surviving in a digital age

Here are my rather eclectic suggestions of New Rules that I have heard, picked up or created.  I am hoping you will add and refine this list.  You can add your comments to this list here - My Digital Footprint Blog

mashup* are also organising an evening debate on "new social rules" on November 24th - you can register here http://www.mashupevent.com/event/new-social-rules   

1.     Change your password to Facebook, Twitter and bank accounts etc before you change your boy/girl friend/ partner

2.     Don't sack/release/ make redundant the person, and then be held hostage, by the person who has the login/password for your corporate fan page, group, twitter account until many people have control/access.

3.     Have several persona's, this is not a sign of madness and you don't need to justify then to anyone.

4.     Hide your friends identities by using personal nick-names on your mobile, just in case a friend borrows it to text that person with some inappropriate message that may haunt you forever.

5.     No adult supervision will not lead to anarchy. The youth want to be somewhere (in a digital world) where they are in control

6.     Provide someone (you trust) with the knowledge how to access your accounts/ data after you die and what you want done with your data/ digital footprint. Be aware - it will go against every term and condition you have signed if you do this.

7.     Your password is the weakest point in your armour,

8.     Reputation is all you have and your name is a good identity - so don't abuse or loose either

9.     Make sure you realise that your digital footprint is worth more than your salary

10.    Everything you do can be recorded (stored) as sensors will be in all digital devices soon - ask yourself why and what use will the data be and to whom!

11.    Create a lot of rubbish data and cause confusion if you want to hide in plain sight. It is easy to find and hard to hide in a digital world if everyone is honest

12.    Determine what the terms "family" and "friends" mean to you before you accept others into your network(s)

13.    Un-friending is acceptable - being un-friended is a reality

14.    Learn the social (digital and physical) rules that apply to your group today but be aware they will be different tomorrow

15.    Privacy - It's all in the settings

16.    Digital has one speed - fast, there are no breaks but plenty of fuel

17.    Internet writing is in Ink, once out there - it is out there, there is no rubber (yet)

18.    Loyalty (to a service) is dead - you are free to your own boundaries

19.    Open means you don't want to hide and transparent means "it can be found" - but most people will not bother

20.    Branding is now personal and it is the new black

21.    Trust is the new king’s advisor – content still wears the trousers

22.    Free is not free - Engagement, Relationship and Conversation have a price

23.    FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) are easier to sell

24.    Money in a digital world has less 'personal' value than real money and is closer to swopping chickens for potato's. Unlike cash, others are more prepared to cheat, lie, swindle and steal your digital money as it appears "virtual" and less actual. 

25.    Don't set up any direct debits to anything

26.    Don't let individuals buy web domains or set up accounts just to avoid the long corporate procedures and PO cycles.

27.     Interaction with the “screens of life” is the ultimate digital game being played. It is to get "content" from the dark bowels of a data warehouse onto your brightly lit screen

28.    Control is not in your hands

29.    Levels of damage and harm from digital engagement is currently lower that you may think