Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, YouTube, you name it--social media has become a nearly ubiquitous tool in society. With all the features of these emerging technologies, it is important to keep in mind some general rules and tips for our online adventures.
1. Be conscious of what you post
With the high amount of internet traffic, many social media users believe that they are safe from watchful eyes. I know many who have learned the hard way that as discreet as your posts may feel, no one is 100 percent protected from consequence. Posts that imply you are or have been involved with alcohol, drugs, partying, racism, bullying, and the like can paint a very nasty image of who you are. Risky posts can not only make you the target of judgment and criticism from peers but from admissions officers and employers as well. A 2015 post on TheHiringSite outlines what employers are looking for when they search applicants’ social media profiles: chances are if they find something incriminating or detrimental to your image, they may rethink your hire to their business.
2. Sometimes brief is better
Often we feel compelled to type whatever comes to mind to fully express our opinions, beliefs, and ideas. While it’s great to share our thoughts, not every post requires a full essay and supporting documents to go with it. Chances are, your longer posts won’t even get a second glance from all of your friends and followers: reading something excessively wordy can cause people to lose interest pretty quickly. This need for succinct sharing can extend to more than just text posts as well. I love creeping through your prom pictures on Facebook as much as the next girl, but seeing 800 photos from a 4-hour dance makes me wonder if you spent any time enjoying the event itself. Spending a week at the beach must be pretty uneventful if you feel inclined to tell Twitter about it every ten minutes. I understand that your Justin Bieber concert is very exciting, but there is no reason on Earth that your Snapchat story should be 8 minutes long. Your social media posts should give other users a general idea of what you’re up to, not make them feel like they’ve attended something with you.
3. Not everything is OK to go online
Social media has been a very useful tool in keeping connected with friends and family alike. Though posts might keep us close to one another, it’s not always the smartest choice to disclose personal information with others on a platform that is accessible to millions of users. We have all heard the mantra that we should never post our address, but how closely do we watch the settings on our location services? It is essential to check how often your social media accounts post where you are and when you’re there. Posting about your month-long vacation might not be such a good idea: do you really feel comfortable telling every follower and friend that your house will be completely empty for that long?
4. You will not get along with everyone
We have all witnessed an online argument in some way. Harsh words are exchanged, vulgar comments are made, and feelings are hurt. I will be the first to admit that I’ve typed out a nasty reply, but I try my hardest to reconsider what I’m saying. Users must remember to be conscious of the kinds of messages they are sending out. Especially during fights, we are inclined to respond with strongly worded messages in order to better assert ourselves and our position. These types of retorts are not only rude and unnecessary, but serve as a poor example to our younger friends and followers. Online fights can be better avoided by posting and responding with a cool and collected state of mind. If the temptation to respond negatively proves too strong, users should unplug for a bit and step away from the situation.
As social media changes rapidly, our awareness for our online habits must evolve as well. Every update, improvement, and fix that developers bring us can lead to unexpected challenges and new situations that we must be ready to handle. Safety and consciousness with social media should hold importance to users everywhere, but we should keep in mind foremost that there's no harm in taking a break from screens to unplug. Choosing between the computer and the park? Twitter can wait.
