Have you noticed that there are no pictures of Apple Store employees on social media? 

When I got hired by Apple, we were instructed to steer clear from mixing our job with social media. Too easily, things can get out of hand. We were also instructed to never talk to the media and defer any inquiries to our social-media spokesperson. Too easily things can be misconstrued or taken out of context. (How easily we forget…)

I got my first iPhone after six months of working for the company, in 2010. It was an iPhone 4. I didn’t think I needed an iPhone. But once I had it I loved it. I had only a minimum of data on it, so I didn’t cruise the internet. It soon became a very useful tool, to find my way around Silicon Valley. I had gotten lost before, while driving alone on the highway. I missed an exit and that was it. I wasted 30 minutes trying to find my way back. Otherwise we used to print google map directions every time we went to a meeting, an event, or new a friend’s house.  

I used to teach classes on tips and trick on the new iPhone and the very first generation iPad. I loved my job! I remember though, when I was hired and my first day in the store was during a quarterly meeting event, and we had a mariachi band and delicious Mexican food. Me and my other four new colleagues we were introduced to the the store team, with claps and cheers. And I remember thinking: “everybody is so good looking. It this a hiring criteria?” But everyone was happy, smart and friendly. And that made everyone look attractive I think. 

Despite all the beauty abounding in blue Apple shirts, nobody bragged. Nobody took selfies, nobody posted on Facebook (Instagram or Twitter). We followed the guidelines and it was good. We felt protected, rewarded and cared for by our employer (I had the pleasure of working with the best leaders), and we protected the brand name by displaying a respectable character in our speech and actions. 

That being said… today I have made a decision. Going forward I will not post any pictures of my daughters on social media. 

In my opinion, they are a beautiful representation of adoption. And they are so beautiful to me. I’d love to share their journey, and funny, adorable faces. But their beauty is not owed to anyone. On the contrary, it is my responsibility as their parent to protect them and their identity. I will continue to take pictures and print books for them. The world is otherwise pretty unstable, people get too easily worked up or offended. Information and images are too easily misinterpreted. So there. See you in person. See you on Christmas cards. My kids have the right to privacy and I’m starting protecting it in earnest as of today.