Social Network Etiquette

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In today’s day in age, as much as it pains me to say, people may interact more behind computer screens and through cell phone connection way more than they do face to face. According to statisticbrain.com, there are 1.2 billion Facebook users and 98 percent of people ages 18-24 are using social media, so it is safe to say that a majority of us are active on some type of social network. In a world where people are meeting, establishing, and maintaining relationships over social networks, it is important for all of us who are a part of this social media culture to know proper social network etiquette. If you are unaware of what proper etiquette is, then you are in luck. Today, I will be breaking down the proper way a man should act on the big three social networks; Facebook, Instagram, and twitter.

FACEBOOK

Facebook at this point in life for people under the age of 24, has become all but irrelevant for us but in the interest that you do still have a Facebook, etiquette for this particular network is very simple. “Less is more.” Facebook has become a lot more for older people reconnecting with old friends and for parents to keep tabs on their offspring’s life, so the correct way to navigate Facebook, is by using it as little as possible. Do not post statuses or pictures about how you party all the time unless you wish to receive a very angry text message from your mother about what you are doing while she is paying tuition. Remember that your user name on Facebook is often your government name, so be mindful of what you post because not only can your parents find what you post, but potential employers can as well. Having inappropriate explicit things on Facebook can only harm you, so once again, be mindful and use discretion. Oh, and do not “Poke” someone. That is creepy.

Twitter

Twitter is a lot more informal yet personal in nature compared to Facebook. Twitter is a beautiful way to express your opinion on things that are happening at the moment and allows you to express how you feel in a short period of time. The most dangerous thing about twitter is that it is easy to read something you disagree with, lose your cool, and let off a rant in which you seem emotional and vulnerable.  The key to proper twitter etiquette boils down to “Keeping your cool.” Do not allow anything you see on twitter to affect you so much to the point where you react negatively and emotionally. Chris Brown would be a perfect example of exactly how not to behave on twitter. Remain calm and keep composed at all times, and you will find twitter very entertaining, and useful. Also, don’t follow more people than are following you. It doesn’t look cool.

Instagram

            Instagram is easy. It’s simply posting pictures and “liking” pictures that other people post. The only thing that you really need to know about navigating instagram as a man, is not to post too many “selfies”, which are defined as pictures that one takes of oneself. If more than 20 percent ones total amount of instagram pictures are selfies, then some serious maintenance must be done. Leave the selfies to the women, and stick to posting pictures of your family, your pets, and your favorite sports team. Also, duck faces are completely unacceptable. Stop that.

Follow these rules gentlemen, and I assure you, you'll be fine.