Using social media effectively isn’t all about saying Look at me! Look at me! Look at me! Pick me, Pick me, Pick me! (picture an obnoxiously behaved little kid jumping up and down to be the chosen one – I picture that one little kid from the Polar Express movie). Or someone desperate to be noticed, kinda like this…
Listen up!
Social media platforms are designed to facilitate building social networks or social relations among people who share similar interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections.
==> CONNECTIONS <==
When used as intended, these platforms are a beautiful way to expand your social network beyond your local area, enriching both your life and the lives of those you connect with.
When used incorrectly, they don’t enrich lives at all, they actually tarnish the experience.
When you don’t check yourself for relevance or appropriateness, you become like that kid in class with the histrionic or attention seeking behavior disorder.
You know, the one who has poor judgement and no respect for personal space or boundaries. The one who is always in everyone else’s face making inappropriate or irrelevant comments (usually with some ‘shock’ value they feel is witty but is usually just gross or obnoxious)… the one who is always first to jump in with an, “I can top that!” anecdote. The one who desperately has to say or do something to hijack attention because they can’t stand it when they aren’t the focus. THAT ONE.
The one everyone wishes would just leave the group because they’re ruining the experience for everyone else.
DON’T BE THAT ONE!
Take at least 2 seconds to think about what you’re saying and doing. Keep it relevant and appropriate for the group or person you’re with at the time. You know how to show up and act. I mean, you may cuss but do you cuss in church? …you can control yourself when it’s in your best interest to do so. And… It’s always in your best interest to do so, assuming that your goal isn’t really to annoy the crap out of everyone.
So Today’s Tip:
Share good stuff, interact, be a participant in conversations. Don’t just stand at the front of the class hopping up and down to be seen.
And the bottom line is, if you are wondering if something is appropriate to post in a group or not – don’t post it because obviously you don’t know the group well enough yet. Get more involved, mingle more, see how you can serve. Then, it’ll be more clear.