By Brian Malcom

We here at YLB are dedicated to the task of preventing you from getting fired because of social media.

While common sense goes a long way in properly using social media, a little advice never hurts.  (Hint: Just like warning labels on products, there is a reason I am giving this advice!) Here is some general advice: Assume your boss reads everything you write.  If you would not want your boss reading your post, it's probably not safe or smart to place on the web for all the world to see.

Basic Twitter Advice:

• Do not tweet about your lack of motivation
• Do not tout recent job offers
• Do not badmouth your job, your colleagues, your boss, your company or your clients
• Do not tweet about your illegal activities
• Do not tweet inappropriate comments about co-workers

Basic Facebook Advice:

• Do not use Facebook to bash your job, your colleagues, your boss, your company or your clients
• See Twitter tips for status updates
• Do not login to Facebook while at work (With the "chat" feature, your "friends" can see when you're online.  If you should be working, work) 
• Assume everyone can see everything. (Don't lie to your boss about a family emergency, and then post a picture of you dressed as a fairy at a Halloween costume party time-stamped on the date of the supposed emergency)
• If you're a professional, keep your Facebook page professional and/or private

A recent MSN article highlights the plight of those who failed to heed common sense and my, apparently, late advice. For your entertainment, below is an excerpt from the article which points out some terrible, but true, tweets.  These 10 examples of Web 2.0 blunders get the first 10 honorary YLB Web 2.Oh No! Awards.

"Paul Wilson, a freelance/corporate Web marketer and blogger, found several of such moments on Twitter, a social networking and micro-blogging site, and posted these "Top 10 Tweets to Get You Fired" [sic]:

1. "hate my job!! i want to tell my bosses how dumb they are and how meaningless this job is, then quit, and be happy!"
2. "So my job was to test all the food at the new resturant, can I just say, ughew. I'm going to taco bell then twistee treat."
3. "Workin... This job sucks worse then the economy!"
4. "I'm going to work! Walmart! Must find better job! I hate it when chicks there have a deeper voice than me and refer to me as foo!"
5. "Also I'm really bummed that I'm working today, i asked off so i could study but my boss is a ******* **** ***** ***** who can't read."
6. "Coworker smuggled out a chair for me. Currently being paid to SIT around and listen to John Barrowman on my iPod. I don't hate my job today!"
7. "having sex dreams of people you work with makes for an awkward day."
8. "smoking weed at work is so [EDITED] great :)"
9. "It's bad when you overhear the n00b programmer say "I used to work at McDonalds with him" and you wonder if he is talking about the CEO..."
10. "Huh, with my boss on twitter, maaaybe I should take down that sexy picture of her... but her reaction will be priceless!"