We hear a great deal about the importance of transparency and the need to be open on the Internet and in social media profiles. My interpretation of that is less literal than be open to any and all. I am a parent who takes seriously the many security threats online to both myself and my family. Facebook is a great place to share information about me and our family and connect personally and socially. Not everyone I am connected with on FB is someone who 1) is particularly close with me and my family or 2) is someone who wants to hear about what is going on with me socially but rather is connected via cause or professionally.

Facebook and other social networks are valuable on many levels in our everyday lives and help us stay connected. I utilize the security measures, permissions, filters, groups, and select who sees what both for the benefit of those connecting with me and for myself. Some people want to know I had a great trip to the lake for the weekend, others prefer only to hear about the information I gathered from the Wired Moms Summit online. I am not only selective about who I friend, follow or fan from a security perspective but also as a courtesy to those I am connected with - socially, professionally, or for mutual cause.

To me transparency is more about how I present myself. I am the same person on Facebook that you meet on the street. If we're not the same individuals, organizations and companies online as offline, others will see right through it and as my mom would say, you're not fooling anyone but yourself.