Is there too much Big Brother in social media?

Yes, according to respondents from a recent survey, which asked consumers how they feel about social listening from brands on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. More than half (51 percent) said that they wanted to be able to talk about companies using these tools without them paying attention, and 43 percent think doing so is a direct invasion of their privacy.

However, 42 percent of brands have stated that social listening is a top priority for 2013.

So what’s a company to do?

This infographic takes a closer look at yet another disconnect between what consumers want from social media and what companies think they want, and provides some key takeaways for brands on how to avoid stepping over that very fine line that separates paying attention to consumer needs from blatantly invading their privacy.

(Source: Netbase. Privacy image via Shutterstock.)