Social media brands: don't speak for me!

I have a bone to pick with the people at BranchOut, the new Facebook-centred business network. But then I realised this is all part of a wider problem, which happens at different levels in different places on the social web.

What am I talking about?

Someone has stolen my voice.

That maybe sounds more sinister than it really it. But it's still bloody annoying when social media networks automatically post information 'as if' it is coming from you.

Can you imagine a company doing this in real life? This is how it would work. You go into a shop and express an interest in what they do. Usually, you might expect the proprietor to engage you, talk to you, maybe even remember you next time. But would you really expect himm to steal your mobile phone, impersonate your voice and ring all of your contacts in order to persuade them to also visit his shop?

This is what happened to me when I joined BranchOut. I joined because I saw that a couple of people I know and like had become members. So I signed up, but was unaware that it would automatically post a message on my Facebook wall saying how thrilled I was to be a new member.

I'm sorry, but you can't speak for me.

I might be happy about the prospect of connecting with thousands of people via their network, but you can't assume that. Moreover, you can't assume that I like it so much I want to 'auto-boast' about it.

But they did, by putting out the message below without telling me.



Maybe I didn't read the small print. And yes, yes - I understand that these messages are the way that BranchOut will, well, branch out. But if they annoy everyone as soon as they join, BranchOut won't go far. Social media networks enable people to connect - when and where they want them to. They don't force them to connect, and certainly not with words of their choosing! They may as well tie you down and stick pins in you until you agree to recommend them.

I could always open a new Twitter account called @BranchedOut and tell everyone that BranchOut is rubbish. If they can speak for me, why can't I speak for them?

OK - this is just one example. And I am sure the nice people behind BranchOut are not as rude as I am suggesting. But please, be more careful with the auto-posts. If you want people on your network, you've got to let them speak for themselves.