If a photo is never shared, but a photo of it being taken is, did it ever exist?

A few of you have emailed me asking what I think about Sacramento Kings basketball player Nik Stauskas photographing his per diem money.  Well, not exactly THAT, but the fact that teammate DeMarcus Cousins photographed the per diem photo shoot and shared it.

For those of you who haven't seen the picture, have a gander:



We'll save why a pro player needs that much money a day when clearly being taken very well care of when traveling and focus on why this photo even exists.

Who is responsible for this image?

Who is responsible for it being shared?

Is there a difference?

These are questions many public safety agencies skip past when writing short sighted social media policies.  Even though it feels like Facebook and Twitter are here to stay, there are already rumors of the "Next Myspace" with invites to the exclusive Ello drawing hundreds of dollars on ebay.

Departments are encouraged to apply existing rules to new technology by focusing on WHY their members share and how to break the impulse.

CBS reports that the image of the per diem has not been posted to Nik's public accounts on social media, but he still took the photo.  We can't say why.  Perhaps bragging to a friend?

Tough part here is that it isn't the initial photo that caught the attention (although I'm sure it would have) it was another player that thought the situation needed to be shared.

And likely without Nik's permission, which is where this situation will start getting complicated should the Sacramento Kings organization decide to take action against DeMarcus Cousins.

I'm not saying they should, but what if they did?

What would he be in violation of?  Does your agency have rules about sharing photos, quotes or speaking to the media?  If so, that will apply to in person interviews, emails, texts, posts...all possible methods of sharing media.

Now let's go back a few decades and pretend someone photographed this and had it developed, then hit the xerox machine and posted it all over the office?  Would the same rules apply?

They should.

"But Justin, it's the internet!  It'll be there forever!"

A: Not true

and

B: Who cares, it's there, let's try to prevent the next one.

I found this image funny but I've been there.  I remember being the new guy who showed off that first paycheck that had a comma in it.

The trouble is, Mr Cousins, maybe it didn't need to be shared.

Mr Nik Stauskas didn't feel the need to share his photo publicly.  Mr Stauskas gets it.

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