Delicate Issues Of Social Media Etiquette

Ever have that moment where you take a step back and think, I sure didn’t mean to offend, but somehow that came out wrong. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and a million more sites are out there and used on a daily basis. We all have that account, it’s just how we use it that makes a difference.

It seems small towns and close circles of friends can sometimes find themselves a little out of hand on the internet. Somehow you find yourself in an online battle that you didn’t mean to start. How do you get yourself out of it? Should you have not made that post? Are you over sharing?

I am in no way an expert on social media. But over time I’ve grown to learn a few simple rules that maybe we all should keep in mind. Often your future employers, your current employers, your coworkers and other more professional acquaintances will add to your friends list. Often potential employers will go straight to your social media page to see what kind of person you are. It’s easy to hide behind a keyboard and make rude comments, but remember that those comments will be seen by both people you know and maybe people you don’t know.

Social media has been discussed several times in the work place here at the Courier. I use it often to keep an eye on stories and happenings in the area. I use it to read state news, national news and world news. I also use it to see and share photos of my family members, to see how friends and family are doing and sharing in proud moments. So finding a balance in the digital world can often be difficult.

Luckily there have been many filters created. Posting to family only, to certain groups of friends only, or to your professional friends only. Often, those filters aren’t used, and also sometimes those filters won’t keep everyone out of what you’re posting.

As one of my coworkers here at the Courier reminded me, you have the right to post whatever you want on social media. If you feel the need to air the dirty laundry, or make a controversial post, then it’s your right. What you need to remember, is that you can’t post certain things without expecting certain responses, negative or positive.

Most of my Facebook arguments have been over the legalization of weed, social injustices and changes that I think need to happen. I usually expect someone to disagree with a post, and rarely take anything personally when it’s said. Sometimes seeing that other perception, or the other argument can help you determine if you really do feel passionately enough to stick to your stance on a topic. But what happens when the topic does become too personal? Especially with professional colleagues able to view your postings, or the ability to be tagged in something you don’t want a part of.

After several etiquette tips researched, I came across an article published by the company LinkedIn. For those who don’t know, it’s the professional version of Facebook, you can post your resume online and network with professionals. I thought they kept the article relatively simple.

The top things listed were to do unto others, be nice, don’t be too quick to judge, be respectful, don’t be annoying, use first names, play by the rules, don’t abuse your network, use a profile photo and don’t be too quick to react.

For me, the two that stood out are don’t be too quick to judge and don’t be too quick to react. With so many controversial issues and a plethora of different backgrounds converging on one space, it’s surprising that we don’t find ourselves in trouble often. Sometimes a person makes a comment that you took the wrong way, it might have actually not mean what you think it does. Stating opinions verbally can be argued differently in person. You can read body language and see facial expressions, so getting hostile doesn’t happen in a hurry. Unfortunately online you’re missing those social cues.

Take a moment before you post an opposing opinion and think about whether you want that out there in cyber space for all to see. When someone communicates an opposing opinion take a moment before you react to be sure you aren’t taking it the wrong way.

I think the tip to not be annoying could be complicated. What you might find annoying, I might find entertaining. All around most etiquette articles describe annoying as posting all the time and posting every activity during your day. Post something that has some sort of significance. It’s also wise to think about whether friends want to be tagged in your posts. A few etiquette sites suggested no more than three posts a day.

I actually did learn a few things by my search of today’s social media etiquette rules, and also from my own experience. Before hitting that “post” button, take a moment to think about a few things. Forbes magazine had a checklist of items to ask yourself before sharing to the world, I also thought I’d add a few.

Should a specific audience get this message? Will anyone care about this content? Will this be offensive to anyone, if so am I willing to argue and will it matter? Is this this content appropriate for social media, or is it best communicated in another way? How many times have I posted today? Is this post too vague for people to understand? Am I using my social media as a personal diary and is there better ways to deal with my emotions? Am I venting online? Is this post going to effect someone else?

With such a fast paced world and so many ways to connect, don’t forget to stay connected outside of the social world. I enjoy social media as much as anyone else. It’s an easy way to keep up with people, but keep in mind that the digital world is also a very public world. Don’t put anything out there that you wouldn’t want your boss to see.