Social Media Etiquettes You Should Follow | The Beat
SECURITY

Follow these Social Media Etiquettes so You Won’t Get Unfriended—Ever

Social media is an amusing platform that connects people from across the world. But sometimes, it can be a dark pit of gloom and sadness where a miscalculated click leads to endless regrets. The freedom of being on this platform comes with responsibilities, too. With most global borders still closed due to the pandemic, many of us have relied so much on social media to communicate with our loved ones. Unless you’re living under a rock, staying off the grid is nearly impossible. In this article, we put together some social media etiquettes you need to keep in mind before clicking that button.

Think Before Tagging People


Have you ever been tagged by someone in an unflattering photo only for you to remove it within seconds from being notified? Thankfully, Facebook now gives you the power to approve tagged posts first before adding them to your timeline for all your friends to see. As one of the social media etiquettes, be mindful of tagging people in your status posts and photos. Before hitting that button, ask yourself if the tagged post is something that the other person would appreciate. Unflattering, revealing, and sensitive pictures are just some posts that you should think twice before uploading.






Don’t Share Sensitive Information

Hackers are always on the prowl for vulnerabilities. When posting online, make sure not to disclose personal information such as your address, number, and other details that attackers could use to hack your device or systems. Unless you’re doing a fund drive, keep that bank account information private, too.

Beware of Sharing Unverified News

The amount of information being shared online in a split second has made the daunting task of fact-checking even more difficult. Fake news purveyors have become better at editing photos to make them look real ones. As someone who uses social media, it is your responsibility to verify if what you’re posting is factually correct. Do not share links from dubious websites and unverified sources. If you’re in doubt, the safest course of action is to refrain from posting until you get the facts. Keep in mind that your social media profile is a reflection of you. If people (or worse your workmates) see that you easily fall for fake news, they might think that you are gullible and untrustworthy, too.






Give Credit Where It’s Due

Attributing your posts to the original source is also one of the most important social media etiquettes. Always ask permission first before sharing someone else’s work, unless that particular asset is already public and is open for sharing, and when the platform you’re using to re-post the content automatically makes the attribution or links to the creator’s original post.

Don’t Post Unauthorized Content

Consent is an underrated word in social media. People often assume that when something is online, it is open for anyone to repost. However, the correct social media etiquette is to seek permission first before posting something online and refraining from uploading content without authorization from the owner or parties involved.

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