What Shouldn't You Tweet About?

If you've spent any amount of time on Twitter, you've probably run across one or two tweets that are definitely rated PG-13 or above. You may also have noticed people Tweeting about intimate personal details like job satisfaction or marital stresses. Many Tweeple even post pictures of themselves and their children using services like Twit Pic. We've already covered Tweeting about politics, but are there any taboo topics on Twitter?

The Paint-Your-House Rule

"If you wouldn't paint it on the side of your house, don't post it on the Internet."

Many Internet privacy and security experts recommend following the paint-your-house rule when posting to social media and social networking sites. It's meant to illustrate how little anonymity actually exists online. No matter how anonymous you think you are online, someone with determination and the right tools can probably find your name, home address and more. That's one reason I use my real, full name on Twitter. If I don't let myself get caught up in the illusion of anonymity, I'm more consciously aware that everything I say on the Internet will live forever there.

But What About Authentic Relationships?

As I pointed out in yesterday's post, Twitter is a relationship-building engine. While it can also drive traffic, Twitter is first and foremost a tool to organize, create and maintain authentic personal relationships. In your face-to-face personal relationships, you probably share many stories and secrets you wouldn't want to paint on the side of your house. How can one build the same trusting relationships online without putting oneself at risk? It's hard to walk that line.

Happy Hour vs. Personal Conversation

What do you talk about when you go out after work with your colleagues for happy hour? If you're like most people I've worked with, you're probably relaxed and having a good time, but you know better than to let your guard down completely. There could always be someone in the group who isn't on board with a, "What happens at Happy Hour, stays at Happy Hour," policy. Your relationships with your coworkers can remain genuine and warm without compromising your privacy or your job.

Twitter is like a giant happy hour, except everyone who attended brought a video camera and is recording the whole gathering. Have fun, build relationships, but try not to say anything that you wouldn't want your parents or boss to run across someday.

Taboo Topics

Dear Redhead gives away sex toys through her advice column and Tweets about everything from masturbation to her own breasts. Lena Chen is an insightful writer and a tough-as-nails feminist, but she's better known online for a scandal involving naked pictures leaked by a vengeful ex. RightGirl balances her vituperative political commentary with tweets about "Topless Wednesday." MariKurosato has hidden nude pictures of herself on her website to drive traffic, though she's now experimenting with vulgar videos instead.

With so many well-known and respectable Twitterstreams looking more and more like a "Sex and the City" episode, are there any truly taboo topics left on Twitter? I don't think we'll see Neil Gaiman talking about private bodily functions anytime soon, but even the well-known social media power user Zaibatsu has used Facebook and Twitter to share information about his divorce, the health of his young son and to suggest that others follow (on Twitter, of course) his ex-wife's new boyfriend, with whom he's on excellent terms.

But for every Twitterer who pushes the envelope and sees no ill effects, there's someone else regretting oversharing on Twitter. Amanda Bonnen was sued for $50,000 in damages after Twittering about her frustrations with Horizon Realty's alleged unwillingness to fix a mold problem in her apartment. Daniel Hayden's Tweets threatening politically motivated mass murder were over the top, enough so that Hayden wound up under arrest. Comedian Russell Brand drew heated criticism this spring for using Twitter to attack a politician and to accuse the politician's son of illegal drug use.

So Where's The Line?

As always, your own personal comfort level should be the deciding factor in what you choose to post on Twitter. As a certain AC contributor might say, it's all relative. But remember, a Tweet is forever. Even if it's deleted, your Tweet may still show up in searches. Think before you Tweet, and when in doubt, stop, wait, look at some funny cat pictures, and return to Twitter when you've considered whether or not you really want to post personal information.

Do you have any hard and fast rules about what you won't say online? Where do you draw the line? What are your personal taboos? Let me know by leaving a comment!