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Thanks to mobile technology and social media, you can keep track of your friends even if they live on the other side of the world. However, it’s not always easy to know the proper etiquette for dealing with touchy situations that arise with communication in cyberspace. Here are tips to help you stay away from socially awkward territory.
Don’t Share Everything
Even if it’s a triumph that your child is potty trained, sharing a photo of the “evidence” is probably not a good idea. Most friends and followers will not appreciate this level of sharing. Be restrained when sending out personal information. Likewise, show some finesse when commenting on Facebook photos. Even something that’s intended to be funny can fall flat in cyberspace.
Watch Your Tone
This is important in almost every kind of communication that’s not done in person or over the phone. It’s easy to fire off a terse email or a sly comment on Facebook. Remember that the people reading your words will inject their own emotions. Err on the side of being polite, making it more difficult for people to misinterpret the tone of your remarks.
Don’t Be Afraid to Clarify and Edit
If you sent out a tweet that was a little harsh, send a second tweet explaining what you meant. Maybe you posted a status update on Facebook in a moment of frustration. If it’s something that could embarrass you later, remove it.
Know Your Friends
Regardless of which social media platform you’re using, think twice about being friends with bosses and co-workers. You can lock your tweets so that only approved followers see them.
