In
our world of revolutionary new ways to communicate, it should be no
surprise that social niceties have evolved as well. With new ways to
stay in contact online comes new expectations for politeness. To some,
these new assumptions may seem intimidating, yet most are common sense.
On Facebook, for example, reciprocity is the best way to stay active,
yet respectful. To take the guesswork out of your social media
interactions, we’ve compiled the top 20 most important pieces of
Facebook etiquette.
Don’t Get Too Personal
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It’s always a good idea to avoid Facebook
after recent fall outs with people close to you. Whether it’s a failed
friendship or a romantic relationship, posting too much about the break
up is unprofessional. It’s good Facebook etiquette to keep certain
private things, private.
When In Doubt, Message
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Similarly, it’s a good idea to remember
what belongs on someone’s wall and what should be in a message. Remember
that everyone can see wall posts and no one appreciates public posts
that are too personal.
Be Outgoing
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Another piece of good Facebook etiquette
is to respond when someone makes a comment. It’s sort of the virtual
version of meeting a friend’s high five instead of leaving them hanging.
Stay Appropriate
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That being said, try not to over post on
your friend’s activity. It’s perfectly fine to leave a few comments or
likes when a friend shares some new photos, but it feels a bit like
stalking when someone responds to every single post, every time.
Avoid Mundane Updates
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Additionally, you shouldn’t over-share
your life. Mundane things like grocery shopping or getting the mail
might seem funny to you at the time, but friends are quick to hide
updates from people they find annoying.
Respect The Tag
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Try to make sure everyone looks good in
photos before you post them or tag friends. It’s good Facebook etiquette
to keep embarrassing photos private, since every tag shows up in all
your friends Facebook feeds.
Filter Your Wall Posts
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In a similar way, it’s also good Facebook
etiquette to be sensitive about how you post on other people’s walls. A
reasonable rule is to not post publicly details or photos that might
get your friend in trouble if an employer were to see it.
Avoid Venting About Work
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Another way to break Facebook etiquette
is to vent about work. Don’t underestimate the “networking” part of
social networking. If you are not completely positive about your privacy
settings, friends of friends are likely to see posts or photos, which
can quickly lead back to your coworkers or boss.
Don’t Pass On Chain Updates
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Posting chain status updates is another
way to break Facebook etiquette. Just like chain mail and chain email,
chain status updates are only annoying. Try to avoid spreading anything
that vows to give you good luck, bad luck, or keep you from being
murdered by a werewolf. Additionally, by avoiding silly chain status
updates, people’s feeds are less crowded for legitimate concerns that
people need to see quickly – like nearby natural disasters, Amber
Alerts, or similar concerns.
RSVP
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It’s also good Facebook etiquette to RSVP
promptly when you get an invite to an event. Since your friend likely
needs to prepare food, drinks, or venue space, responding quickly is
respectful of their time.
Avoid Drama
Good Facebook etiquette also means
avoiding fights on Facebook. Not only is it embarrassing down the road,
other people don’t need to see your dirty laundry.
Appreciate Profile Pictures
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It’s also good Facebook etiquette to like
and comment on close friends profile pictures. Everyone likes chatting
on Facebook, and it’s a nice way to stay in touch.
Stay Familiar
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On the other hand, it’s good Facebook
etiquette to avoid friending people you don’t know very well. Many
people prefer to keep their circle of Facebook friends to the people
closest to them in real life.
Don’t Impersonate Others
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Unsurprisingly, you should never create a
fake page for someone else. Not only is this in the actual Facebook
rules, but bullying others by making fake, insulting pages is childish
and can actually get you in legal trouble.
Wish Your Friends Happy Birthday
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It’s also good Facebook etiquette to say
something when a friend has a birthday, though you probably want to be
less graphic than the photo above. It’s especially nice if you switch up
the traditional happy birthday message with a silly picture, online
game, or ecard.
Be Kind
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Another piece of good Facebook etiquette
should be obvious. Never try to force somebody to talk to you or “flame”
somebody’s inbox. Sending angry messages over and over again will only
make the person less willing to talk to you.
Hack Sparingly
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Everyone loves posting a joke status on
someones page should a friend leave their Facebook account open one of
your devices. However, remember the guidelines above – employers,
parents, grandparents and other people close to this person are going to
see the update. If you can’t think of something in good taste, it’s
better to just hit Log Out.
Don’t Photoshop
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You might think photoshopping yourself
into a beautiful scene (or claiming ownership of a photo that isn’t you)
will go unnoticed, but in reality it just makes you look too eager. Not
only that, you should be proud of who you really are offline.
Be Sensitive
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“Trolling”, or making a joke out of
something online that wasn’t intended as such seems like fun, but it can
quickly cross the line. Since Facebook is often used to keep people
informed in times of distress or tragedy, what seems like a harmless
joke could actually be making fun of a grave situation.
Search Before You Post
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Finally, if you want to seem professional
on Facebook, it is an excellent idea to look up details before you
post. Some stories we see on other peoples Timelines seem legitimate,
but in fact are satire or just plain false. Even spelling mistakes can
make you look foolish, so try to proofread before you hit “Share”.
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