SYDNEY – Twentysomething Marketing Assistant Angela Parker uses social media the same as everyone her age: posting photos of brunch, selfies with the gang, a cute dog, stories of sunset wines and the occasional thirst trap when she’s bored or lonely.
Now Ms. Parker has to do some serious soul searching and restrategise how she uses Instagram.
On Sunday she was chilling on the sofa with phone in hand when a new follower notification popped up. When she saw who it was her blood ran cold. It was her manager Rob Wilson.
‘On the one hand I don’t care as it’s my account and I can post what I want outside of office hours, but now my manager sees what I get up to and that may not be a good thing’.
Ms. Parker notes that she has a civil and friendly relationship with her manager, and since she gained her new follower Mr. Wilson has viewed all her stories and even liked a few posts but not once acknowledged her Insta profile in person.
‘It’s really strange, he looks at all my stories so what do I do now? Do I follow him back? Do I stop posting my usual content? There were a few times when I posted stories of me being frustrated at work so now I can’t do that anymore’
Ms. Parker claims she’s nervous as she has a big weekend coming up with friends she hasn’t seen in a while with plans of a harbour cruise. ‘I have to document my weekend. Do I just block him or pretend it’s not a big deal?’
Ms. Parker said she is considering setting up a decoy account for work acquaintances.