Was Huey Lewis Right All Along?

Recently, across several social media platforms, conversations have turned to the language we use when conversing informally.  This was brought to my mind yet again today on Twitter, as I was following the hashtag #bizforum, where the Question of the Day was whether companies should mandate social media checks as part of their hiring process.   For the record, my personal view on that is "it depends"...but that's probably a conversation for a later blog post.

It's fairly common knowledge that the majority of Twitter peeps (tweeps?) tend to eschew profanity--with the exception of teenagers and certain youngish entrepreneurial types, who seem to relish their "freedom to not give a f&^%", as I've seen it said.  LinkedIn, given that it's intended to be a professional networking site and is often a go-to choice for jobseekers, tends to also have a "clean language" bent.  Facebook is basically a free-for-all, as far as I can tell--probably because most "regular people" don't use it for business at all, but rather for its original intended purpose, which is to connect with personal friends and family; this tends to encourage people to drop their barriers and speak freely (and floridly!).  Google Plus is still too new for me to really get a read on, as far as the prevailing culture of language, but in my interactions there thus far, it seems to be following a Twitter-like culture of keeping it mostly clean.

So, I'm wondering...all those years ago, was Huey Lewis right?  Is it really "Hip to be Square"?

My personal feelings on this matter are basically that if you wouldn't want your employer to read what you're saying, whether it's due to profanity, or your extracurricular activities, or your behavior inside the four walls of your home, then simply don't publish it on the internet.  Before you dismiss me as being painfully out of touch, or possibly a religious fanatic or prude: I say plenty of things in person that I would never put into writing; partially because I KNOW my audience when I'm speaking live, and partially because anytime we write something down, we can never be truly sure if the reader will follow our train of thought, get our jokes, understand that we're just kidding, or even forgive us our potential transgressions when we ultimately offend them.

Nothing we say online on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ or anywhere else is truly private, and for that matter, even our browsing habits may not be all that private.  So why run the risk of embarrassment, harassment, potential job loss (or being passed over for an interview) based on what you say on social networking sites?  Is it so important to talk like one of the "cool kids" that you'd risk your professional reputation and credibility, or limit your opportunities just to fit in?

I'm gonna stick with Huey on this one.  It's hip to be square.