Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and Communications Trend #6 (2015) – SCN Encourager

Okay.

I confess.

I believe.

And it wasn’t the 1947 holiday classic “Miracle on 34th Street” starring Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne that nudged me across the line separating the real from the imaginary.

I was a believer long before I made it a tradition to watch this movie every year.

I can’t imagine the Christmas season without re-acquainting myself with the enchantment and optimism contained in this film.

While my various movie snacks and beverages may have “matured” over the years – I haven’t.

Despite the evidence to the contrary (my January credit card bill, for example) I still believe.

And I hope this doesn’t set me up as a willing patsy for Communications Trend #6.

Because Communications Trend #6 involves coming to grips with “what’s real and what’s not” as well.

In looking ahead to 2015, many social commentators and organizational leaders are advocating that we need to let go of our “illusions of privacy.”

Even though we have clear laws, regulations, and policies out the wazoo, everyone’s right to privacy will continue to evaporate day-by-day.

As school leaders and communicators, we take our FERPA, HIPAA, and legal requirements seriously.

We do this in spite of Communications Trend #6’s warning that any notion of future privacy is likely to be as illusionary as the one in Santa.

We need to guard against overselling our ability to keep things confidential, top secret, and under wraps. (Except when they’re in a stocking or under the tree, of course.)

Most of the future promises we make regarding privacy will be difficult to keep.

With all of the big data collected, the big cameras mounted high, and the little cameras held low, it’s wise to assume we’ll see more and more of our best-intentioned confidentialities and secrets pop up on social media long before our scheduled official release date of the information.

So. whatcha’ think?

Communications Trend #6 makes me feel kind of sad.

Oh well.

It’s one of the reasons why I’ll always believe in Santa.

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