Social media interaction is in many ways a part of everyone's daily lives. And since it is a communication medium with every single person in your life, it is important that each one of us understand the proper ways to behave online.
Would you do the following in a face-to-face interaction?
* Acting all close and spilling your secrets to someone you barely know?
* Be self-absorbed and consistently talk about yourself w/o regard to everyone else around you?
* Randomly approach a friend and ask for favors -- repeatedly?
* Constantly announce to the world what you are doing (even the littlest things: I am walking, I am eating..etc)
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may want to visit a refresher course on social media etiquette specifically Facebook and Twitter. Just because you are behind a monitor in your room doesn't mean that you can do and say as you please -- no holds barred.
1. Randomly add people just because you have more than 2 mutual friends.
Many users like to keep their Facebook to their circle of friends and family or at least to people they have acquainted to in the past. If you are looking to make friends, properly introduce yourself when adding them. Don't always assume they know you -- especially when they, well, don't.
I am severely annoyed by this ever since online sellers started invading Facebook. I like online shopping A LOT but I really hate it when people tag me on pictures that are totally unrelated to me. If you are selling something, send a message with the link to your album rather than annoy your friends and flood their walls with weight loss products.
3. Publicizing private conversation on a wall post.
There is such a thing as too much information. Even though you know everyone on your Facebook, have a little sense of privacy and use the messages feature to discuss private matters.
4. Harassing people to "like" your post.
Facebook contests are used as a marketing strategy of some businesses to make their product known. In effect, "contestants" request their friends to "like" their entry for them to win the contest. This is really fine with me, but harassing your friends and constantly sending them messages for you to win is just plain rude. One simple request is enough, but please..for crying out loud, huwag pilitin ang ayaw!
Some people are just not that into games. Personally this is really fine with me bec I do enjoy some Facebook games, but I have encountered some people who really force you to click the application invite just to increase their "neighbors." Again, stop harassing people for your own advantage.
6. Spamming.
Facebook spam and scams are consistently increasing mainly because some are too naive to understand that not all that they see on their friends' feeds are true. For the last time, there is no application that will allow you to know who viewed your profile, you will not win an iPad by clicking the damn smiley pic, and you will never see Justin Bieber nude. Get over it!
1. Mundane tweeting.
Tweets such as "I'm sleepy!" "Eating breakfast.." "About to sleep, good night!" may be interesting to some, but 90% of your followers could care less about the fact that you are eating or that you want to sleep. As much as possible, kill non-sense tweeting and tweet with purpose. Maybe you would want to revise your tweets with: "Breakfast at Banapple. This Banoffee pie is amazing. A must-try!" Always consider what's in it for your followers -- give them a chance to react to your posts. After all, there's really nothing much to reply to "I'm sleepy," right? :)
2. Using Twitter feed as chatroom.
I used to do this actually, but ever since some famous people started following me, I am now conscious with what I tweet and I tell my friends to just BBM me. Generally, conversations that are exclusive in nature should be kept private using chat platforms. Twitter is a broadcast medium, and although it empowers you to use the @ symbol to directly talk to individuals, it doesn't mean that you and your friend can flood your mutual followers' Twitter feeds. Using @mentions to talk to someone is absolutely fine, but everything should be kept in moderation.
3. Constantly asking your followers to follow your friend.
"Guys, follow my friend @Twitternewbie! Thank you! Pls RT" -- I mean seriously, why should we? Unless your friend is someone famous or is tweeting VERY interesting stuff, then please save yourself some time and effort because no one will follow your friend back. Revise your tweets with: "To my UP Diliman MMA classmates, follow Prof @Twitternewbie!" or "My friend @Twitternewbie tweets the funniest stuff about cheesy pick-up lines, follow him he's hilarious!"
4. Avoid Internet drama.
Broadcasting your how stupid your boss is, how your ex cheated on you, or how your colleague is having an affair with someone from work is a risky risky business. Not only will it make you look pathetic, it will also make you look unprofessional.
5. Tweet nothing but RANTS.
Expressing disappointment or frustration over something is fine every once in a while. But as I have said, everything should be kept in moderation. I recently unfollowed someone because I got really annoyed of her constant negative tweeting. Who would want to constantly read stuff like "F*ck you! You ruined my day!" "You really think you are pretty?! Ew!" "Lecheng buhay to!" "I am a bitch and I have a right to because I am hot." Irritating right?? And seriously, BEING A BITCH IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF.
Personally for me , it all boils down to three basic rules:
1. Respect the community.
2. Listen to others.
3. Be accountable for your actions.
Always remember that social media communities are real relationships with real conversations among real people. As such, social media interaction should be treated with respect as your personality reflects on it. Is it really that much to ask for people to be a NICE person, whether face-to-face or virtually?
