Facebook and other tools like it are rampant in our culture today. They are a true testament to the power of the computer and make the world a much smaller place. This being said, this luxury comes with a great deal of responsibility, especially in a combat zone. Although the internet keeps us connected with our friends and family and is a powerful motivational factor when geographically separated, the potential to accidentally say or show something you shouldn’t is dangerously easy to do.

The wrong image or story could really hurt or scare your family. Not only can poorly chosen information damage your family emotionally, but the enemy is always watching too. This may sound terribly cliché, but it is all to real and true. I am a believer in open and honest communication (which is a different topic) but it is important to know your family’s limits as well as what information could potentially be useful to the bad guys.

So what is the answer? It would be a shame to completely eliminate such an efficient and powerful communication tool just because a few soldiers “slip up”. But that “slip up” could have deadly consequences. I believe that our soldiers are smart and mature enough to handle this responsibility and the resource should continue to be allowed. However, there should be clear and concise parameters,  random monitoring and the consequences for sending sensitive information should be severe.

In short, be smart and thoughtful about what you choose to send over the internet but enjoy the new technology. When in doubt, just say less and listen more. 

 Read how other military personnel feel about Facebook in this month’s Deployment Digest.

Read why the Canadian Government warns against using Facebook.