Social Media Shenanigans

Every August I set out to write a series of posts for Women’s Month. It’s usually a magical time for me because I find the writing therapeutic and more often than not, people resonate with what I have written and engage with me around the topics I have chosen.

This year, I decided to deviate from the norm of my posts aimed to encourage women and write on something that has been written on but mostly remains as ‘unwritten rules’. Social Media Etiquette. I have posted on this recently, where I gave my unsolicited advice to think before you post. I’m guessing most people will ignore this because they think that their social media pages are their own and thus they can very well do what pleases them. I would appeal to you to stick with me for the next 31 days and maybe something I write will prevent you from making a mistake that you can't take back.

I cannot count the number of times I have huffed and puffed that someone needs to write the book on social media etiquette. Not a policy that governs you at work but a proper guideline on how to behave on social media platforms. No. I have not written that book. I have, however, put together some tips and comments that will hopefully keep us all with our reputations intact as we navigate as responsible Netizens.

Just like we have been taught how to tread with people face to face with the rules and norms which govern those interactions, so too the digital world has some rules and norms that, if applied, will make your interactions valuable and meaningful. The rules differ for individuals and businesses and so they should. Our intentions or goals or strategies for using social media platforms are completely different depending on which hat we are wearing when we post.

Now if you think I’m writing this from the perspective of a subject matter expert, think again. I am writing it from the mindset of someone who has behaved like a complete idiot on social media platforms and wish someone had told me this before I was endowed with the Social Media Dunce hat and placed in the corner to think about what I had done!

As a teaser to upcoming topics let me mention the unthinkable acts of tagging my friends in photos they did not give permission to post. And then there’s me over sharing about my children. Let’s not forget the cringe-worthy sharing of inappropriate posts without verifying the authenticity.

You are probably at this point asking yourself what on earth is the big deal? And the answer is uncomplicated. One solitary post could cost you everything.

As I locked myself away to work on these posts, the thing that dances at the forefront of my mind is that common sense has died a sorrowful and heartbreaking death! If you choose to part ways with me now, that’s ok. Just take this with you as a parting gift:

• Do apply the same common sense you apply in ‘real’ life to your digital life as well.

• Do think before you share and post

• Do remember that most things you post are public and permanent.