How to survive social networking sites according to, well, me!

Since Facebook is the most widely referred to social networking site, totally ousting MySpace I might add, I will write using Facebook as the example.  But take these tips and apply them to any social networking site you are a part of and really, you might as well just apply them to life as well.  I'm just sayin'.  :) 


1)  Keep it clean.  Keep your language clean, your posts clean, your pictures clean, keep your "tone" clean (yes, you can have tone in the virtual world). Nobody, and I really mean nobody - whether they will admit to or not, needs or wants to see pictures of you drunk, half-dressed or half-undressed, with hickeys from your make out sessions, etc.  Nobody likes to see the "f word" showing up on their news feeds multiple times during the day.  Despite what you may think using that word does NOT indicate maturity, it indicates quite the opposite. 


2)  While everyone has freedom of speech it doesn’t give us the right to loudly push our opinions on everyone else or berate others for their opinions.  There is a time and place to debate such topics as politics and religion.  Facebook, Twitter, etc are not generally the places to do that.  I do know of two people within my friend list who have been able to debate hot topics and only lose a minimal number of friends!  Fastest way to lose a friend through Facebook?  Rudely and sarcastically say something political or religious based, especially if it is a personal attack against someone else. You cannot know their persuasions or how they will respond to such behavior.  Don’t use Facebook as your personal soapbox even though others may.  Don’t follow the crowd, keep it civil and courteous. 


3)  Facebook shouldn’t replace real face to face interaction.  Use Facebook as a method of touching base but not the main means of communication.  Pick up the phone, jot a handwritten note and stick it in the mail.  In these days of computer based relationships the human interaction of a voice or a handwritten note goes a long way.  And no, texts don't count as handwritten notes just in case you were wondering.  :) 


4)  Don’t be obnoxious by talking only about one thing.  If all you talk about is ______ this, ______ that then you will drive people away.  In these days of social media and networking it is easy to be obnoxious about your hot topic and not even realize it until your number of friends starts decreasing!  Be real not obnoxious.  It is obnoxious to only talk about one thing. 

5)  If I read one more passive aggressive status update about me or someone else I'm going to vomit.  (I've had several aimed my way in the last couple of months, ugh.)  It is NOT okay to attack others, send intentional digs, etc through your Facebook status that you are hoping will show up on the news feed of the person you are trying to passively aggressively get to.  Be an adult and confront/talk to the person instead of lobbing verbal bombs their way through Facebook.  I mean really...

There it is. Now you can see why I said at the beginning that these tips are really life tips as well as social network survival tips!  :)  Be socially in tune to what is appropriate, be real about who you are, and don’t use social networking to replace authentic interaction.  By using these guidelines you can and will survive social media/networking!