With the recent and massive use of the web and social media, it is now possible for anyone to spread and publish their ideas to a global audience in a heartbeat. In some cases, the spread of such thoughts are benign. However, in other cases, the malicious use of the web can be severely detrimental to an individual or a company’s reputation.
Because ideas that are surfaced on the web are so rampant and come from so many varying sources, the reputation of a company or individual can be either decimated or nourished in only the click of a mouse, and they can spread like wildfire. This use of technology and the social web can easily work in favor or against a company or individual, and its consequences/rewards can be extreme. And in most cases, it is extremely hard to reverse any damage that is perceived.
Let’s take a look, for example, at the Christian Bale case:
Christian Bale Rant Video
*He was audio-taped and video-taped on set of the movie batman ‘flipping out’ at a crew member who accidentally walked on air while he was filming. After I heard the video, my perspective of this actor changed dramatically, in a negative way. His reputation was quickly destroyed, and it will take a lot of explaining on his part to attempt to rectify this situation. I don’t expect that he got away with this type of behavior without any consequences. But, again, this illustrates how the widespread use of the web can easily and quickly change the image of an individual or a company.
Another similar case was that of Michael Phelps, the U.S. Olympic Swimming Gold Medalist.
One picture changed his life:
Michael Phelps' marijuana use puts focus on debate over the drug
Because ideas that are surfaced on the web are so rampant and come from so many varying sources, the reputation of a company or individual can be either decimated or nourished in only the click of a mouse, and they can spread like wildfire. This use of technology and the social web can easily work in favor or against a company or individual, and its consequences/rewards can be extreme. And in most cases, it is extremely hard to reverse any damage that is perceived.
Let’s take a look, for example, at the Christian Bale case:
Christian Bale Rant Video
*He was audio-taped and video-taped on set of the movie batman ‘flipping out’ at a crew member who accidentally walked on air while he was filming. After I heard the video, my perspective of this actor changed dramatically, in a negative way. His reputation was quickly destroyed, and it will take a lot of explaining on his part to attempt to rectify this situation. I don’t expect that he got away with this type of behavior without any consequences. But, again, this illustrates how the widespread use of the web can easily and quickly change the image of an individual or a company.
Another similar case was that of Michael Phelps, the U.S. Olympic Swimming Gold Medalist.
One picture changed his life:
Michael Phelps' marijuana use puts focus on debate over the drug
The picture (and news of his marijuana use) was so widely and quickly publicized on the internet that it inevitably changed his reputation (and image) permanently.
The use of such technology can work to advocate or decimate the image, brand, and reputation of individuals and companies throughout the world.
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