KANSAS CITY, Mo. - If you are following the Larry Johnson story, you know the controversy started because of what he tweeted.
So we've talked with some experts about how to survive the use of social media in the workplace.
Tyler Hilker posts a tweet while he's being interviewed for this story.
"NBC Action News is checking out the action in my cube...,"he wrote for his followers.
It's part of his job to both tweet and monitor, or follow, 700 others who communicate with the short blasts that have gotten Chiefs player Larry Johnson in trouble.
But has he ever tweeted something he regretted later?
"I know that it's out there, and having worked in social media, and seeing the downfalls of that, I tend to be careful, and not very incendiary," said Hilker.
Hilker is unlikely to get fired for tweeting at VML. It's an interactive advertising agency. It's the kind place where every meeting, even a hallway chat, involves laptops.
But when it comes to using social media in the workplace, Hilker's boss has some tips.
Number one: Pretend your boss is always in the room when you're online.
"...if unbeknownst to you, your boss is a friend of a friend of yours on Facebook." said Mike Lundgren, a partner at VML.
Lundgren points out that controversy thrives on-line and sometimes helps celebrities build their brand.
"Building a career out of being a subject matter expert and being a little controversial or putting it out there in a little bit edgy or frank way," said Lundgren.
But if a certain line is crossed, you can lose the game, and celebrities play on a different field than the rest of us, so the line is in a different place.
Here are Lundgren's top four tips:
- Know your company's social media or "right to speak" policy.
- Don’t say something online that you wouldn't say to someone's face.
- Act like your boss is always in the room.
- If you blog about your industry, don't mention your company without permission.
