It’s all about social media today!
We’re shifting gears today! I’m taking a quick break from anti-aging topics and turning my focus to social media. Social media is such an amazing way to stay connected to family/friends, make new connections, broaden your network, and establish your brand as a business owner. With so many positives, it’s a wonder why some people still avoid it. I think it’s because of some negative behaviors which can fracture relationships and make people less likely to interact. There are some common behaviors that I see regularly and they fall into three categories. I thought it would be helpful to talk about them along with possible solutions. So, let’s dive in…here are three ways to be more socially graceful on social media!
Be Nice 👍🏽
Because interactions on social media are not face-to-face, it is tempting to not be as sensitive/politically correct/tactful as you would be if you were talking to an individual in person. Also, it is harder to convey your intent via written words because the recipient doesn’t have the benefits of seeing your body language and hearing voice inflections along with your written words. My advice: if you wouldn’t feel comfortable saying something to someone’s face, don’t say it on social media. It can be especially hurtful and fracture relationships.
Bragging 🤑
This is very common on social media, and it can drive people away. Some people leave social media because they get sick and tired of posts that scream “look at me and/or all of my stuff!” Unfortunately, this is a hard topic to tackle because what could be construed as bragging by one person could feel completely normal for another person. My advice: if you find yourself bothered by “bragging”, stop looking at it and move on. You can also unfollow a “bragger” so you don’t see their content in your news feed.
Respond ✔
Let’s say someone invites you to an event, but you don’t want to go. Or, let’s say someone sends you a message about an offer or a job opportunity but you’re not interested. Do you pretend that you don’t see it (i.e., you don’t open the invitation)? Or do you open the invitation, but still say nothing? Do you send a heart emoji?❤ None of those options are really answering the person, nor are they respectful forms of communication. If you don’t want to go, respond by saying no on the invitation. If you don’t want the job, say thanks but I’m not interested. And a heart emoji never takes the place of a yes or no answer…it’s an ambiguous non-answer. My advice: show the inquiring individual some respect by answering them.
There you have it–three ways to be more socially graceful on social media. Hopefully, that wasn’t too controversial because that wasn’t my intent. I just think there are some ways that we can all get along on social media without driving people away. In addition, I think we can get along more with others in real life if we use a few social graces while using social media. What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree? Do you have other social graces that you would recommend? I’d love to hear from you!
Mrs. Traylor is a Fitness Instructor, NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach, AFPA Certified Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness Specialist, wife, and momma who provides actionable advice for positive lifestyle changes with fitness, nutrition, and wellness. Read about Wendy’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey, and subscribe to Wendy’s newsletter here!
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