SPACE COAST PARENT

Social media: Be social, not anti-social online

Jennifer Sangalang
FLORIDA TODAY

Just as manners matter when interacting with someone face to face, manners matter when interacting online. Yes, some users choose to post anonymously or represent themselves with an avatar. And thanks to Freedom of Speech, no one can tell social media users what they can and can't post. However, there is the power of flagging, suppressing comments, reporting abuse, etc.

There's the art of being social and the art of being anti-social on social.

As an admin on FLORIDA TODAY's entertainment page on Facebook and Twitter, negative comments from fans and followers are rare, but they do happen from time to time.

Here are some tips about social media posting etiquette for Twitter chats, Facebook, Google+ and other social media forums. If we've missed any, reach out to me on Twitter: @byjensangalang or like us on Facebook, facebook.com/floridatodayentertainment.

• Stick with the conversation. Turbo Mom editor Sharon Kindred used to moderate a parenting chat forum and offers this advice: "Try to steer it back to the original conversation. Otherwise, it becomes annoying."

• Let someone rant. Everyone has an opinion. Period. A rant on social media is meant to find supporters or generate a discussion. Not to insult.

• But try not to insult. Some users can get offended on social media. Even though a person's profile is visible, there's still a "they're saying it online instead of in my face"-like attitude. "I try to remind them of the original conversation. Eventually the conversation dies down," Kindred said. "If it gets personal, then that is another story. I don't see that as much now that responses are tied into FB accounts. When the moms could be anonymous then there was a lot more hurtful things said. Once people know who you are that changed things quite a bit."

• Selfies. Twosies. Threesies. Daily selfies could lose their appeal to fans and followers. Also, consider the context. Weight-loss selfies have a better effect with a "before" and "after" — say, in one-month or two-month increments.

Miscellaneous social tips

• Invites to play games. Send one, maybe two. If you get a response or a thank-you, it's probably safe to assume the invites are welcome. If there is no interaction, the next time you want to send an invite, you probably shouldn't.

• Tagging friends in posts: Tag them if they're specifically mentioned or if you think they'd appreciate the plug. Just like the game invites, don't tag someone just to tag them.

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Contact Sangalang at 321-242-3630 or jsangalang@floridatoday.com. Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @byjensangalang
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/family/2014/09/16/social-media-social-anti-social-online/15743185/
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