The good news with social media: It's easy to share.
Want proof? Google the word overshare. Check #overshare on Twitter.
There's horror story after horror story. Maybe not Anthony Weiner of Weinergate fame bad, but bad.
Here are a few examples straight from Twitter's #overshare feed:
--"I lack any sense of forethought, higher-level reasoning skills or dignity. So I'm a big hit at parties. Add me!"
-- It's really not necessary to tell me you had a stomachache then follow it up with, "I was in the bathroom for a while."
Then there was this exchange:
"I feel bad for all my non-followers; you are missing out on reading my hilarious, embarrassing, and emotionally intense tweets."
Followed immediately by:
"had to unfollow due to your non-funny, embarrassing, and emotionally intense tweets."
Sometimes it isn't what is said, it's the sheer volume. In fact, FourSquare has created an overshare badge for users who "check in" — obsessively telling the world where they are — 10 or more times in a 12-hour period.
Frankly, unless you are one of George Clooney's ex-girlfriends, I don't care where you've just checked in, let alone that you have done so repeatedly. Hmm, I seem to have overshared here — and that's the point.
We all know someone who overshares. Sometimes it is us.
For instance, I have a relative who posted nearly 1,000 words, filled with intimate details of another relative's illness, in three Facebook status updates.
The three posts attracted more than 100 comments.
I was aghast, but held my tongue, trying to keep in mind that sooner or later, we all overshare.
Me included.
Stuck at home for two days while sick — never mind exactly how — I recently posted multiple times on Facebook out of utter boredom. I probably didn't go over the edge in terms of content, but the volume was certainly near the tipping point.
Someone I know posted numerous glazed-eye pictures, generally with a glass in hand. The person wrote things such as "marinate me in sauvignon blanc" as a status update. Let's just say this didn't help their case later — in court.
Nancy Beth Guptill -- who does marketing for Sweetspot Marketing in Prince Edward Island, Canada, advises social service agencies, and posts on the dangers of oversharing -- says businesses routinely monitor social network postings and checkout online profiles.
"Anybody can paint a really good picture of themselves in a resume and company portfolio — however — how they behave online gives insight into who they really are," she said.
"People who overshare, badmouth others, including companies, brands and complaining about customer service, are deemed untrustworthy. Also, from a cyber bullying point of view, people who overshare, that information often gets used against them by others wanting to hurt and harm them, plus predators seek out emotionally insecure people," said Guptill.
Guptill has some general pointers about things to keep in mind:
-- Postings are permanent.
-- "Secure" sites aren't secure.
-- Internet postings can carry more weight than a resume.
-- Your postings become your brand, including interactions with others.
-- People and organizations will "creep" your postings to learn about applicants, looking for insights regarding values and character.
Worrisome content includes:
-- Provocative photos and information.
-- Drugs and alcohol.
-- Badmouthing and rudeness.
-- Poor communications skills.
-- Gossip, complaining, discriminatory comments.
-- Sharing too much confidential information about self and others.
Guptill's final tip: Think before you post.
I have a tip of my own: Unfollow or unfriend folks who routinely overdo it. Don't announce to the world or the "friend" that you have done so. Simply move on.
Doing otherwise is, well, oversharing.
