Legal Definitions - dooced

Dooced refers to the situation where an individual loses their employment because of content they have publicly shared on a personal blog, social media platform, or other public website. This content can include written posts, comments, photos, or videos that an employer deems inappropriate, unprofessional, or damaging to the company's reputation or public image. The term gained prominence from an early incident involving online content and has since become a widely recognized concept.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of being "dooced":

• Example 1: Critical Online Commentary

  A senior marketing manager for a major retail chain frequently posted on their personal Twitter account about industry trends. One day, they published a series of tweets making sarcastic and disparaging remarks about a new customer loyalty program, calling it "a desperate attempt to cling to relevance" and "poorly conceived." Although the manager did not explicitly name their employer, the context made it clear to their followers, many of whom were industry colleagues, that they were referring to their company's new initiative. Screenshots of the tweets were eventually brought to the attention of the company's executive team.

  This manager was dooced because their public online commentary, even on a personal account, was highly critical of their employer's business strategy and was perceived as disloyal and damaging to the company's reputation, leading to their termination.

• Example 2: Unprofessional Visual Content

  A newly hired financial advisor, working for a reputable investment firm, posted a video on their personal TikTok account showing themselves engaging in a highly inappropriate and risky stunt at a public park. In the video, they were wearing a t-shirt with a subtle but identifiable logo of their firm. The video quickly went viral within their local community, and several clients and potential investors saw it. Concerns were raised with the firm about the advisor's judgment and professionalism, given the nature of their role handling sensitive financial information.

  This financial advisor was dooced because the public video, despite being created outside of work hours, displayed behavior deemed unprofessional and potentially damaging to the firm's image and the trust placed in its advisors, resulting in their dismissal.

• Example 3: Controversial Personal Opinions

  An employee working in the human resources department of a large technology company maintained a personal blog where they frequently shared their strong political and social views. In a particularly heated post, they expressed opinions that were widely considered discriminatory and offensive towards certain minority groups. While the blog did not mention their employer, a former colleague discovered the post and shared it within the company. Employees and advocacy groups within the tech industry became aware, leading to internal complaints and public pressure on the company to address the situation, as the views expressed were seen as directly conflicting with the company's stated values of diversity and inclusion.

  This employee was dooced because their public online statements, even if presented as personal opinions, were perceived as incompatible with the ethical standards and inclusive culture of their employer, leading to a loss of trust and subsequent termination.