Recently I had a discussion with a friend about the tendency to evaluate people based on what they post on Facebook. And let's admit it: we're all doing it, to some extent. "Ah, but it's just Facebook! Facebook is not who you really are!", you will say. But it's not really like that, simply because it is YOU who chooses what to post. Yes, YOU and nobody else (unless you've been hacked, or your friends decided to write naughty stuff on your profile while you were out of the room).
Therefore, given the fact that the whole situation lies in your own hands, your profile does say things about you, unless you are a very idle user, who rarely ever posts anything. In this case, this post will not apply to you. But for the rest of us, myself included, here are some things that, as a former media professional, I believe we should take into consideration, no matter what our offline lives look like.
1. Avoid intimate details of your life. What happens behind closed doors should remain that way.
2. Keep the posts low in number, but interesting in content. There are people I know who post 10 to 20 items a day. Guuuuys, don't you have a job / school / house / family to concentrate on? Better to have just a couple of good or useful posts, and use the rest of your free time otherwise.
3. Speaking of content: is it informative, important for people to know, or at least simply entertaining? If none is the case, maybe it's not worth posting.
4. I always appreciated original content. Such as perhaps photos you took or videos you made, or your own thoughts and ideas about life in general, or one specific topic. Also, if you share someone else's works or ideas, what are your thoughts about it?
5. Keep the posts brief. Your followers may not have time and patience to read very long texts. If you have more to say about something, such as book or movie reviews, or detailed analyses of current affairs, why not start a blog?
6. Try to keep the posts varied. That is, avoid focusing only on one topic in particular, or one kind of post. It makes you look boring and predictable, which I know you're not! ;)
7. If you share posts you had from other sources, such as internet sites or other Facebook pages and profiles, be very careful of fake news and click-bait articles, with titles meant to create unjustified panic. Where did you get the news from? Is that source reliable or just some godknowswhat.com site that focuses on cheap sensation news? An old journalists' tip is to verify the news in at least 3 sources. And for the way the media looks like nowadays, I would add 3 serious or reliable sources. Or even more sources, for that matter.
8. Here we are, with another delicate topic. Charity deeds, such as blood donations, money donations for terminally ill patients or extreme cases of poverty, or even pet adoptions. I know, we all want to help. But I came accross various cases which were not actual anymore, or, even worse, were plain fake. Do you know that case personally? Or do you know someone who does? Or is there a way that you can obtain more details, and verify the information? Take it from there.
9. If you are doing something good for society, such as participating in an organized charity event, or run a marathon for some noble cause, or volunteer for an environmental cleanup day, let us know. It's not an ego trip, but it's something that should inspire others to do the same. And God, do I admire these people!
10. Avoid posting disturbing images, such as terminally ill or dead people, or tortured or dead animals. Yes, we know these horrible things happen, and we all want them stopped. But being simply verbally informed, without the visuals, is more than enough.
11. Avoid offensive posts, especially for things that are nobody's fault: gender, disability, nationality, race, poverty, and so forth. These are things that you don't choose for yourself, and nobody needs to apologize for them. And if you make fun of them, you are just an a@/&*# (I am a lady and don't use insulting words :p).
12. Don't be shy about your own achievements or happy events, or photos in which you look like a movie star (I said movie star, not Playboy bunny :p ), and also praise your close ones for their own good deeds. But beware: I'm not talking about flashing material possessions. Positivity and good news is something we all crave for in this mad world!
13. I left this one for the end, as something of vital importance. Do not, and I really mean, do NOT film live videos while driving. And for your own good, also when crossing the road. Many accidents happened recently because of this, and most often the victim was someone innocent.
When Facebook entered my life, I was already in my mid 20s. I might not have been some genius, but I had already learned to avoid embarrassing situations. But apparently, not many people have, and those are the online behaviours which I came accross most often, and which gave me food for thought. By all means, I am an active Facebook user, I have found out many things because of it, including activities and information that changed my life for the better. And now probably I shall end my day with some '80s song from my childhood, and I will post it to wish my friends good night.... :P
