Approximately 84% of US adults aged 18 to 29 are active social media users, reports Pew Research, with 500 millions users interacting with Instagram stories every day. Without a doubt, social media has the unique ability to connect and entertain, but sometimes, it can also offend, hurt, or annoy others – when users commit one too many social faux pas. The good news is that platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have been around long enough for a set of rules to have developed around their use. Read on to discover three settings (business, weddings, and at home) that you can negotiate safely by making specific choices.
Social Media Etiquette for Businesses
The pillar of effective communication in a business setting is professionalism. Regardless of the industry you are working in, using your social media platforms to inform, deal with clients, or share key information from contacts should be your main aim and your business should always come first. Messages should be friendly without crossing the line and informative without being too dry or boring. If you usually use supportive imagery for your uploads, ensure the latter is correctly sized for each platform you are using and that the photos you choose are not pixelated, blurry, or poorly focused. If possible, rely on the work of a professional photographer or at the very least, a professional stock company like Shutterstock. Your posts should be something your followers look forward to. Therefore, avoiding making them feel harassed by using too many hashtags. Keep your hashtag use pertinent and to the point. Finally, interact with your followers, answering queries and immediately dealing with complaints in a clear, proactive manner.
Perfectly Behaved Wedding Guests
Some events – like weddings – hold a sacred significance to celebrants, which is why adhering to any social media rules for weddings that couples prefer, is particularly important. Couples themselves usually follow social media etiquette rules, using features such as wedding apps, Facebook events, and WhatsApp groups to keep guests informed of useful information (think transport to the wedding, weather predictions, registry lists, and the like). However, savvy couples may also make specific requests. For instance, they may ask you to put your phone on Airplane mode for the ceremony, avoid using flash when taking photos with your smartphone (since these could interfere with the wedding photographer’s lighting), and ask you to keep posts to specific parts of the wedding (if someone is acting a little too upbeat on the dance floor, for instance, avoid posting any images or information ). To ace your wedding social media etiquette, simply put the couple first and only post images that display the event in a positive light.
Social Media and Relationships
The average American will spend approximately 44 years of their life staring at a screen, according to research commissioned by Vision Direct. One study published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture found that feeling dependent on your smartphone is linked to lower relationship satisfaction. Spending hours straight on your tablet, desktop, or phone can affect communication but also wrest from the simple joy of sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings together. To make the most of social media as a couple, try setting times for a little offline togetherness every day. Also talk about what type of content you don’t want to be shared. For instance, complaining about a partner (even jokingly) is considered a no-no, as are photos that your partner may deem embarrassing.
If you are an avid social media user, it is important to stay updated on any rules pertaining to specific settings. Weddings, for instance, are often taken very seriously by couples, who will expect you to present their event in a positive light. Businesses, meanwhile, should always use social media in a professional manner, engaging with followers positively and dealing with any complaints quickly and effectively.