Social Media Etiquette: Sharing or Over-sharing?

I see it every time I visit one of the many social media sites: the naked pictures, the verbal abuse of friends and family, the strange, cryptic updates about being unhappy, the photos of half-finished food or the constant updates on someone’s fitness routine or diet.

According to a survey conducted by sweatbrand.com, many social media users are guilty of over-sharing. Some of the worst offenses? Those who are constantly updating their status about their diet and fitness regime. Over 53 percent of survey participants said this is the most irritating social media habit.

It’s okay to let your personality show through in your posts. That’s part of be social. But you can go to far. Do you really want your rant at your best friend who slept with your cousin’s boyfriend posted all over the internet?

Keep your personal thoughts on a personal page, please.

Using social media, especially in business, means you should use your common sense and follow a few do’s and don’ts when positng.

Here are 7 manners to use in social media posts:

1 For Business,  keep it professional and clean. Your clients may be connecting to your social media history. Your actions could very well cost you a big client.

2. Use good grammar and spelling. Would you hire someone to work for you if their spelling was atrocious?

3. Stay off your Soapbox as much as possible. I know some people are chronic complainers. They might be lonely or bored. Useless information, advice and negativity will make me unfriend you instantly.

4. Don’t cuss (or at least not every other word) or use abusive language on your business social posts.

5. Over-sharing and Over posting. Sharing intimate details really isn’t necessary. and posting photo after photo after photo of dogs is a little over the top. Don’t get me wrong I love dogs, but don’t you have something else to talk about?

6. Posting photos and tagging people at the local nightclub or ball game without getting their permission first.

7. Act and speak the way you want to be treated. As the old golden rule goes: One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.

As a general rule I try to keep my personal and business social media separate. Occasionally though the personal things get shared with my business clients. I don’t  believe people are really that interested in what I had for dinner every day or what I am doing every minute of every day. But of course we do live in the social age, with the internet being available anywhere, anytime, mobile or not. I guess being overly social goes with it.

So are you guilty of over-sharing? What rules, manners or don’ts would you like to add? Leave a comment below with your thoughts on social media. I’d love to have you share them.

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