Online Social Networks: My Personal Rules of Engagement
Dear Online Social Media Users,
Like millions of other people, I am a regular participant of online social networks for a wide variety of reasons ranging from making new friends and reconnecting with old acquaintances to learning, sharing, networking and even promotion. I’ll admit it. I love it! It’s fun, time consuming and very addictive.
What’s more, I truly consider many people whom I have never met face-to-face to be friends. Just as if we would have met at a cocktail party, ballgame or professional engagement, I enjoy your personal anecdotes, jokes and conversational insights.
In a recent personal conversation with a colleague, I was reminded just how comfortable and potentially dangerous online socializing can be. Not necessarily the criminal brand of danger as much as the ole “foot-in-the-mouth/negative impression” kind. It is so easy it is to forget the very public nature of online social media in the midst of some witty bantering among friends. It is with this thought in mind that I have written the following reminder for myself for all online interactions. Maybe you’d like to consider them too.
1. Refrain from using profanity. It’s tacky. There are plenty of ways to express negative emotion effectively without dropping an F-bomb. Someone once said, “Profanity is the weapon of the witless.”
2. No bad-mouthing of individuals, competitors or other brands. Negative feedback offered in a constructive way is fine. Negative comments about others who may not be my personal “cup of tea” or who may be direct competitors, are not. Something about potentially burning bridges goes here. If someone really gets my goat, I know how to use the “unfollow” and “unfriend” options.
3. In retweets, reposts and fowards, reconsider rules 1 and 2. Even if I wasn’t the original author, the content that I pass along is a reflection of me.
4. Take the time to answer genuine questions and to actively engage with new users. As my mother used to say, “We were all new once.” Anyway, new participants bring new ideas and new opportunities.
5. Conversations with multiple “inside” references or issuing invitations not open to everyone who can read your posts are best handled with the Direct Message/ Private Message functions. Never alienate others.
6. Never engage in conflict using social media. A healthy debate is great. Verbal attacks are not. Take it to a private forum or better yet, walk away.
7. Above all, do not confuse being online with being anonymous. Anything you submit, post, or offer on the web can be traced back to you.
No matter your online objectives, do yourself a favor and always represent yourself well. After all your personal brand is one of the few assets that you will have from cradle to grave. Make it your own but treat it with respect.
Your online friend/follower/connection/colleague,
Kelli
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