The short answer: there’s no line. Just as companies’ brands are being forced into transparency, so are our personal brands. So – how do we make decisions about what to say (and not say) to the masses? How do we decide what’s appropriate, and two whom, at the other end of a Google search?

Some ideas:

• There’s no way to completely separate online personas (personal vs. professional) even if you have separate Twitter accounts. If you’re transparent, you’re still linked (at least anecdotally) to your professional ID, and need to make decisions as such.
• Don’t say anything online you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. Making snarky comments, complaining about your job or clients, etc. are not safe online. Putting these things on the internet is worse than saying them to your cube neighbor.
• The definition of “acceptable” has to shift. Is there going to be a 9/11 of social media? Something so big that happens that forces behavior changes? The one event that everyone makes decisions by?

Ultimately, there are small decisions you can make about who can see what content you’re distributing – but that’s a small answer to a big question. We’re all humans, and eventually, it’s going to be okay to talk about that humanity and “faults” associated with it. But then, we’ll redefine what a “fault” is, and to whom…

Needless to say, this session could’ve continued for hours.