Internet Safety – It ’ s not always what you think . Joseph Baxley
Southcentral Katahdin Hair Sheep Association 8
Internet Safety – It ’ s not always what you think . Joseph Baxley
The first thought that probably comes to mind when someone mentions “ internet safety ” is don ’ t put your personal information out on the world wide web . Although , that is very true , internet safety can also refer to not trusting or believing everything that you read on the internet . More specifically , you shouldn ’ t believe everything you read on social media . Judging from the responses and rhetoric at the annual SCKA meeting in Mississippi , social media is a hot topic and elicits very opinionated responses from both sides of the issue . This article is not being written to antagonize or kindle those arguments , but to warn social media users of some hazards and pitfalls to look for . No one can deny the way social media applications have transformed the way we communicate , advertise , and network . Most successful large and small companies now employ a social media specialist in their IT departments . Numerous universities across the nation are now offering Social Media Marketing Degrees to fill the void of this evolving technology . With all the positives that organizations and individuals can reap from social media , there is a dark side . Like any technology or tool , social media can be very good or very bad . A pistol can be a fun hobby or be used to commit horrible crimes . Social media and the pistol have one thing in common ; the difference between good and bad depends on the user . There are a lot of knowledgeable and helpful users on Facebook that can be a real asset to you in time of need . They can be contacted when you have a sick animal , questions on husbandry , sales of breed stock and more . Unfortunately , it seems for every one of those “ good users ” there are two bad users . So how do you know the difference between good information being given to you and bad information ? That ’ s the easy part .
Get off your hind quarters and do some research and verification on your own and EDUCATE yourself . Too many times , breeders , especially new breeders , go to social media groups and ask questions without doing their homework first . Don ’ t trust everything that you read on the internet or social media . Contrary to popular belief , it ’ s not all true . Verify information that you receive on social media for accuracy . Where do you go and what do you do ? Here are some suggestions and pitfalls to avoid :
� Call or email an experienced successful breeder that you have come to know outside of social media . All breeders who sell you breed stock should be interested in your success and will make themselves available to you for support . This is our responsibility as breeders to further our breed and assist newcomers in becoming responsible and competent producers .
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Research product websites and brochures . Read the fine print on medications and products especially if you are being told to use them off label . Know what is in them and how animals react to those chemicals or minerals . Use online retail websites to read reviews on the product .
Research education institution resources and cooperative extension services . Read the studies on husbandry that pertain to your industry . Print them out and put in a notebook with tabs for quick reference in the future . Pick up or download brochures from the extension cooperatives around the country and organize them the same way . Read trade magazines and newsletters and save them for future reference .
� Discuss issues with other producers in your area , even if they may raise a different species of animal .