The Importance of Social Media Etiquette

    The Importance of Social Media Etiquette

    When you're deciding on a caption or which pictures you want to post, why do you think that is? It is because you want to carry yourself a specific way and portray yourself as you wish to your followers. This is formally known as social media etiquette. Quoting directly from the reading, "Your actions on social media are a direct reflection of your personal brand.". This quote effectively describes the basis of social media etiquette. 

    If the previous example didn't relate to you, what about a regretful post? I assure mostly everyone who uses social media has posted something in the past that they wish they could take back. This could be a post that starts conflict or controversy, shows immaturity and other things. It is very important to carry out your morals on social media, and only post things appropriate to personal and common business standards. 

    Staying up-to-date and educated on social media do's and don'ts is crucial for individuals who commonly use social media. An important example of a "do" of social media, would be managing separate accounts for your personal and professional life. Hypothetically speaking, if you want to express something that could cause conflict, like politics or religion, it is best to do so on a personal account so you don't bring unwanted attention to your business or company. Although I would recommend staying away from those touchy subjects online. 

    An important "don't" of social media is not mass producing content. It could get very annoying to your followers or friends, and often leads to a lack of good content. I would recommend posting once every couple weeks, or once a month. This may vary depending on the person though. For example, I have no need to post a lot, compared to someone like Brad Pitt. This is because of the exponential difference in the following. Obviously the majority of people would be more interested in a Brad Pitt post, rather than my posts. In essence, the demand is a lot more scarce for me compared to an acting star.

    In summary, social media etiquette is something everyone should learn. Even if you don't use social media, it is good common knowledge to have.