SUNDAY PAPERS GET a whiparound treatment on Irish talk shows but because the topics discussed often exceed the professional experience of the hosts and the panels, all listeners get is rewarmed speculation. Facebook and revenue inspectors got mentioned this week on national radio so that means no one should expect that panel members have ever used Facebook, LinkedIn or any other online social network. That doesn't mean that the panel won't have an opinion about the topics--opinions come fast and furious. During the Sunday Business Show on TodayFM with Ted Harding, a few minutes of discussion revolved around a front page article concerning Evert Bopp's experience while being audited two weeks ago. He "was shocked when a tax inspector produced print-outs of his activities on Facebook Xing and LinkedIn."
Evert Bopp told The Sunday Times, "I use LinkedIn as a business resource and document details of ventures I am involved in and new projects. During the audit I was quizzed on entries about the expansion of one of my companies from a year ago. I can't see what my social networking sites have to do with a VAT audit and I found the experience very invasive."
In the first column article, Bopp explained his use of social networks. "LinkedIn and Xing are useful for increasing your business profile and I like people to be able to access my details. I've actually grown sick of Facebook. It's a timewaster." Others agree.
Throughout the past week, some parents bordered on hysteria when talking on radio shows about internet chatrooms because "you can't see who you're talking to," said one that I heard. Just like calling into the radio, then?
Liam Fay reports on "a survey by the Internet Advisory Board (that) found most parents know little about social networking websites such as MySpace and Bebo, when seven out of 10 Irish teenagers are enthusiastic devotees." Fay points out that "social networking is nothing more than a modern means of making and maintaining friendships. And, in reality, parents have always known less about their children's friends than they'd like to think."
Evert Bopp -- "Irish Tax Office Catches up with Web 2.0"
Colin Coyle -- "Taxman profiling people on Facebook" on the front page of The Sunday Times, 24 February 2008.
Liam Fay -- "Web of fear for parents based on ignorance" in The Sunday Times Comment< section, 24 February 2008.
Bonus Link: Timesonline has archived 693 results for "Facebook" on its properties.
