It’s no secret that we live in a world dominated by technology and social media, but do we truly realise the extent of its power? Whether it’s a celebrity feud fueled entirely by online chatter, or even the upcoming presidential election, social media has played a key role in all of it.
In this article we look at some of the DO's and DON'Ts of social media use.
What is Social Media?
Social media is the collective of online communications channels dedicated to community-based input, interaction, content-sharing and collaboration.
Websites and applications dedicated to forums, microblogging, social networking, social bookmarking, social curation, and wikis are among the different types of social media.
Examples are Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest.
Remember that what you publish is widely accessible and will be around for a long time. Therefore, be smart about protecting yourself and your privacy.
Social Media DO’s
By using Social Media, you are taking responsibility for what you write. You are encouraged to use common sense and good judgment. The following tips will help avoid some the pitfalls of posting on social media.
- Be smart about protecting yourself, your privacy and confidential information. Are you sharing appropriate information?
- If you make a mistake, admit it. Be upfront and quick with your correction but remember that you will be held accountable for the information you share in online activities.
- Be respectful.
- Think before you post. How will others perceive it or react?
- Be accurate. Make sure you have all the facts before you post.
- The key to success in social media are being honest about who you are, being thoughtful before you post and respecting the purpose of the community where you are posting.
Social Media DONT’s
When using Social Networking applications for either personal or professional use, it is important to remember that for your own safety, security and credibility they:
- Must not be used to publish any content that may result in actions for defamation, data protection or other claims for damages.
- Must not be used for the promotion of personal financial interests, commercial ventures or personal campaigns.
- Must not be used in an abusive or hateful manner.
- Must not breach employer’s misconduct, equal opportunities, bullying, harassment and social networking policies.