Social Media Etiquette 20 Ways to Maintain Respect and Avoid Being Annoying

In my line of work, social media is essential. It is great for finding business, interacting with people and promoting my line of work. Since the dawn of web 2.0 it has changed the way the world interacts with each other. Instant messages and status posts have become the norm. Often times we don’t realise it, but sometimes we are using it all wrong. A post carries more weight than what is spoken verbally. A post can be seen by hundreds, even thousands in a matter of seconds. What we say, stays on the internet. Even when deleted, it is still saved on a server somewhere in the world with a possibility of haunting you in the future. It is imperative to learn how to behave on social media so we don’t make a fool out of ourselves.

This is my list on how to effectively conduct yourself on social media and avoid being really annoying.

1. Never post while under the influence

Drunk ‘you’ and sober ‘you’ are two different people. What makes sense when you are under the influence will seem really childish to others. When you look back when sober, you will feel regret.

2. Practice Moderation

Posting lots in a row everyday is a very quick way to get blocked or unfriended. It takes effort to scroll down past excessive posts. Personally if I see more than 4 or 5 in a row everyday, I sigh and seriously contemplate hiding that person in the future. It is not mandatory to post everyday.

3. Vague Posts

This is posting in hopes someone will ask ‘“Why?” or ‘What is wrong?” This is a horrible tactic used as an excuse to vent your problems which ties into the next point of...

4. Dirty Laundry

Airing dirty laundry online is one of the worst things you can do. Not only are your problems visible to everyone. It lowers your reputation and tarnishes your image in the eyes of others. Problems happen, always take care of it privately.

5. Drugs

Did you know that employers are now looking you up on social media before they hire you. It is an effective screening process that saves them time and filters out bad candidates. Also the privacy rights keep evolving, so whatever you post, could be used against you in the court of law.

6. Excessive Babies

Your pride and joy will annoy the $%^# out of everyone if they see it excessively. There are even add-ons to social media to replace baby pictures with other images. If you want to share baby pictures, you can create lists that only show them to certain groups. For example certain friends and family only. 

7. Too much $%^&# Profanity

Excessive profanity is a sign of being low class and uneducated. If you must swear, use it sparingly at appropriate times.

8. Vanity

Yes you look pretty, but you don’t need to post a million pictures of yourself. Posting too many pictures of yourself in ‘hot’ poses or selfies in the mirror is a sign of insecurity and is a desperate cry for attention. 

9. Excessive dumb posts

It may seem cool to post dumb and quirky posts constantly, but what it is doing is showing others that you may suffer from a low IQ. 

10. Revealing Weaknesses

I know more about a stranger I met on social media for 1 week than I do about my family. Your posts, updates and reading between the lines will reveal your Achilles heel. Beware letting such information public, for it may be used as leverage against you.

11. Bragging

Inciting jealousy by bragging constantly is a great way to start trouble. Not to say that you should keep your proud achievements private, but rather be modest and think about the delivery of it.

12. Flirting

I find flirting publicly to be very amusing. From an outside perspective, I get to see if a person has any ‘game’, and if things go bad, then it becomes laughable. If you must flirt, avoid making it public, instead make a private message instead.

13. So you like something. I get it.

Excessive posts about the same topic will bore people quickly. Others will see you as one dimensional. Switch it up! There are a million different topics out there.

14. Religion

Religion... the ultimate taboo subject. Which religion is right? That is not for me to decide. Trying to convert others with facts and details on social media is a lost cause. One does not simply change faith on a drop of a dime. It takes much contemplation and soul searching.

15. Practise what you preach

Memes on motivational messages are now the rage these days. If you share it, make sure you follow it. Do not be a hypocrite.

16. Slacktivism

This term is the marriage of slack & activism. It is to create a feel-good feeling by doing little to contribute to the cause. Ever see those pictures of an injured child that say “If 1,000,000 people share this, I will get a operation?” That is an example of slacktivism. That picture was probably taken years ago, and no money gets donated by sharing a picture. If you truly want to make a difference, contact a charity.

17. Passive Aggression

If you have a problem with someone, address them directly and privately. By making a negative public post in hopes that the one person you have a problem with reads it, is a very terrible idea.

18. Negative Energy

Did you know that negative energy can be transferred? By projecting negativity onto social media, the reader will absorb some of it. It will manifest itself in the form of bad thoughts, sick feelings or other forms of negativity. The best answer is to cut off the source of negativity. After all who wants to feel bad anyways?

19. Ranting

Save all your rantings for the Craigslist forums. This is also a transfer of negative energy. See #18.

20. So you had a bad day... so what?

Everyone has bad days. It is a part of life. It is how you deal with it that separates the children from the adults. Constantly posting your problems will only create this vision of you as a drama-ridden individual. 

Conclusion:

Social media is here to stay. How you conduct yourself on there is of utmost importance. You can create friendships and dissolve friendships in the span of a few posts. If you have nothing good to say; say nothing at all, for it may cause problems down the road. If this blog has offended you, remember this: I am only saying what others are thinking already. Please think twice before posting.