Social Media Etiquette

Janet Dodd                                                                                                                             Dodd 1

Professor Kelly Warren

ENC 1102

February 12, 2013

Social Media Etiquette

 

     Laptop computer, smart phone, tablet or gaming system; these are different types of electronic media devices.  Most, if not all of us, have at least one of these devices in our home or with us at all times.  With electronic devices being so readily accessible to us, social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, My Space and others have become the social norm.  We no longer communicate face to face, by phone or mail.  It is now by text, email or Facebook posting. Why say what you want to say to one person when you can say it to millions?  Although these media sites are popular and allow people to connect with long lost friends, provide quicker communication with friends and loved ones and post pictures others might not ordinarily get to see, they must still be properly maintained and managed to “weed out” the people that would use them to do harm to others.   

     The largest social media site, Facebook, was founded in 2004 as an exclusive online student directory limited to Harvard University students. . . . In 2006, Facebook was made available for public use and since then has witnessed exponential growth (Cheng 197).  Hilary Scott of PC Magazine Online reported that in June 2011, Facebook reported over 750 million users. People can log onto Facebook and locate childhood friends, past relationships, long lost relatives, and many more.  There is a sort of nostalgia feeling associated with locating past relationships.

 

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According to a research study conducted by Cheng, Facebook attracts users to spend too much time on the internet and despite its friend-making and gaming activities, overuse of Facebook

can result in a number of social problems affecting rest, relationships, and employment (Cheng 197). Regardless of the feelings that may be felt after locating and “friending” a person that you may have completely forgotten about until they were located on Facebook, these sites can be potentially harmful to areas of our lives.  Some people tend to develop somewhat of an obsession with the site. They stay continuously logged in just in case someone happens to “check in” or comment on a page or post a picture of what food is being consumed at the moment.  Meanwhile in the “real” world, the work that you are being paid to complete is not getting done, or a special person in your life is upset about a posted comment because you did not think anything of it when it was posted. There is no way to effectively communicate emotion in a post, text or email, therefore, the possibility of hurting the feelings of another is extremely great. If you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, remember that even in cyberspace, it’s important to mind your manners(Moore 096).

     There are positive aspects to social media sites. These sites allow us to communicate with friends and loved ones both close and far away.  In today’s busy world, it is difficult to keep in touch with others. Websites such as Facebook, email or texting allows us to send a quick, “Hi, how are you?” message to loved one overseas without the cost of the long distance phone call. However, the problem with this type of snippet communication is that it can be extremely empowering. When the face to face discussion is absent; communication, good or bad, has lost the “human” aspect.  According to an article in The Times called “Anti-Social Networking,”

                                                                                                                                               

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online media can empower the week and stir a revolution, but it can also empower a quiet fool, oaf or bigot to make himself into louder one (2).  This is so true.  There is no filter to make someone ponder what they are posting before they post the comment.

     Picture posting on social media sites is another issue.  Although it can be such a great way to allow loved ones to see parts of lives missed, or special events, it can be a way for unsavory characters to locate children and become fixated on them.  Nuance, restraint, libel law and the etiquette of public debate are all crafts learnt, and most have not yet learnt them (The Times 2).  I, myself have experienced this with my fourteen year old niece.  While “surfing” one day, I happened upon some pictures that she had posted on her Facebook page.  Being the concerned aunt, I sent her a short email stating how much I loved her and that I felt that the pictures were a bit too risqué for every person to view on the Internet.  As we all know, there are people in cyberspace looking for things like that; which may not be not nice people.  The reaction by her was as if I had handcuffed her to a steel pole and left her to die essentially killing her free speech. I attempted to explain how my comments were only out of love for her, but her reply was  extremely nasty.  This caused us to not speak again for over one year. Young people seem to have tunnel vision when it comes to their online postings. They act as if they are only talking to their personal friends, however once something is posted, it is visible for all to see. Privacy settings are really an oxymoron. Once a friend of a friend of a friend views a posting or picture, it is no longer private.

     We are living in a digital world.  I am learning to accept it; however I continue to struggle to keep some type of handle on it. I do not allow electronic devices to be on during meals. I limit time spent on electronic devices. I continue to tell my son that these items are privileges, not

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rights.  I have been out to dinner in a restaurant and seen families with all members on some type of device instead of spending quality time together. Electronic devices, social media sites, emailing and texting needs limits and to be managed by someone, why not the parent.

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Works Cited

 

Mancuso, Joan, and Karen Stuth. "Mind Your Manners." Marketing Research 23.3                   (2011): 40. Business Source Complete. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

Anti-Social Networking." Times [London, England] 1 Aug. 2012: 2. Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

Moore, Fernanda Bashaw. "Curb Your Urge to Overshare." Women's Health Jan.-Feb. 2010: 096. General OneFile. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

Cheng, Julian Ming-Sung, et al. "Social media usage and work values: the example of Facebook in Taiwan." Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal 40.2 (2012): 195+. Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

"Report: Facebook Hits 750 Million Users." PC Magazine Online 27 June 2011. Academic OneFile. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.