Fri, October 16, 2009 - 9:51:27

Think before you Tweet

Image courtesy of Twitter.com

As the authors of THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, we firmly believe that even our smallest actions can have outsize impact on our lives, both professionally and personally.  Whether it’s a kind gesture to a stranger on the street or an unintentional roll of the eyes at a loved one, the little things we do, one by one, can determine the path our lives take.  And sometimes the smallest missteps can spell disaster… even something as tiny as a “tweet.”

As Laura M. Holson writes in a recent article in the New York Times, a number of influential celebrities and public figures have found themselves in loads of legal trouble thanks to a few thoughtless posts they have written on the social networking site, Twitter. 

This month, rocker Courtney Love will appear in court for a hearing after a lawsuit was filed against her by fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir for a hefty sum of $50,000, not for her famed bad-girl antics, but for a few choice words she wrote in a series of tweets.  Although Love, who was angered following a business dispute with the Boudoir Queen designer, probably wrote the insults on Twitter as a way to vent her frustration, Simorangkir (who, among other things, Love called a “liar” and a “thief”) claims that she is in fact the victim of libel.

And Love isn’t the only well known figure that has gotten into trouble with careless messages posted to the microblogging service.  Actress Demi Moore, blogger Perez Hilton, author Alice Hoffman, and entrepreneur Mark Cuban have all found themselves in hot water after making controversial statements on Twitter, but it’s not just a problem facing the rich and famous.  People all over the country have learned the hard way that a little tweet can mean big trouble. 

When Amanda Bonnen complained to her Twitter followers about the mold in her apartment, she probably never imagined that she would be sued by the building management company for defamation and when everyday people make fun of their bosses and coworkers online, they probably never anticipate they will lose their jobs.  But, no matter how insignificant or harmless those snarky tweets may seem, they can have a powerful effect on the course of your life.

So, keep on “tweeting” on, but before you press the update button, give those 140 characters a second thought.  Because the small actions we all take now can change our lives forever.

Posted by Linda and Robin