Although phone etiquette is important, social media etiquette is even more important. In this post I will cover some do’s and don’t’s of social media:
- Be careful when posting. Do not post anything, anywhere, that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of your local newspaper in the morning. Many people have lost jobs by complaining about employers or criticizing customers, even when they thought their privacy settings were set properly. People have also damaged their reputations by posting racist or disrespectful commentary. Save your venting for your journal or your best friend. And don’t use profanity in your posts, either.
- Be careful what pictures you post. Again, would you want that photo in your local newspaper? Do not post photos when you are drunk, doing something stupid or illegal, or partially undressed. The same goes for videos. Don’t make and post videos after you’ve been drinking.
- Make sure your privacy settings are configured properly. Investigate your social media platform of choice to see what is configurable regarding privacy. Use these settings to help you decide what is appropriate to post, and to whom. For example, Facebook allows you to create separate groups of users. You could create one for “friends” and another for “work.” Although you still need to take care about what you post, this way you can have a bit more freedom.
- Understand what your agency’s policy is for using social media at work. Assuming your agency allows the personal use of social media, you must rigorously follow their guidelines and also take care to not allow your social media time to interfere with your job. In general it would probably be wiser to simply refrain from using social media while at work.
- Choose a good profile picture. Your profile picture represents your social media presence. Ask yourself, “How do I want to appear to the world?” It should be taken from the shoulders up, have good lighting and your face should be in focus. You should be dressed professionally and not have a distracting background. You also should refrain from selfies- we can see your arm! You may want to consider paying a good photographer to take a professional headshot.
- Connect consciously. Have a strategy for each platform. For example, if you are using Facebook decide if you want to limit it to family and friends. If you are using LinkedIn, decide what types of connections you would like to cultivate. Then, stick to your policy, explaining it to people if necessary to avoid hurt feelings or misunderstandings.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
*Source: “The Essentials of Business Etiquette” by Barbara Pachter
