Social Networking : is it worth the risk?

In a busy world saturated with pop up adds, billboards, commercials, and spam, the ease of one click uploads, status updates, blogging, ect... social networking integration has found itself firmly implanted in our way of life. Being an artist one not only relies on traditional means but also digital means for presentation purposes. With the many social networking sites; blogs, facebook, myspace, youtube, ect... one is able to not only express one's ideas, but also post ideas, artwork, videos, ect... It's become easier than ever to share one's art, and easier than ever for someone to steal it. This can be absolutely terrifying to someone that wants the exposure, but also wants to be financially successful.

Theft is entirely too easy via the internet. Not to mention most people do not even realize that what they are doing would be considered theft. Nor do they realize how it may affect the creator/artist. Even social networking sites all come with their own sets of user agreements that may endanger your rights as an artist/creator. Not only can someone steal an artist's work, they can now steal ideas, and even view the step by step construction of projects to create it themselves. It's risky venture, but in a lot of cases has proved to be worth the risk.

While I realize the pros and cons related to social networking, and the dangers of putting my work artwork online, I still partake. Mostly because I am absolutely addicted to technology and I need a digital portfolio for exposure purposes. I have seen where people, even friends of mine have stolen images, maybe on purpose, or unbeknownst to them, one way I try and protect myself is by putting an annoying watermark on everything I post online. Yes, it's obnoxious, and yes I realize people hate it, but honestly I do not care. If they dislike viewing my artwork with a watermark across it, then they can buy it :)