Lessons in Social Media Netiquette - #3 is most valuable

When it comes to fine dining and table etiquette, it is considered polite for gentlemen to pull the seats for ladies. Most of us would know that food is served from the left and dishes are removed from the right, glassware is filled from the right, and cutleries are commonly used from the outside in. Once used, cutleries should not touch the table's surface again, and there are subtle ways to inform your waiters/waitresses that you are resting or done with your course in ways of resting your cutleries on the table.

When it comes to the internet, however - specifically in the ever dynamic, beautifully chaotic and logically ironic realm of social media - not many of us know how to carry themselves with pride, dignity and a little bit of humbleness. So, if - for reasons only you yourself know - you are only just in the social media wave, or a veteran stumbling upon this writing, there is a lesson to be learned.

Netiquette #1. #please #don't #hashtag #every #word

And yes, #hashtaggingawholesentenceisalsoacrime! Chris Messina, a social technology expert, is credited to have come up with the very first hashtag on Twitter. He first posted the hashtag #barcamp in August 2007. The whole tweet appeared like this:

“how do you feel about using # (pound) for groups. As in #barcamp [msg]?”

Messina came up with the hashtag with the purpose of gathering discussions and online exchanges regarding Barcamp, a technology unconference gathering activity that spans worldwide. Since then, hashtags have spread to other social media sites and all over the internet to become one of the most widely used functions. (source from: http://bit.ly/1bRvaUp)

If you feel that there is an audience for the words that you're hashtagging, do so. Otherwise, don't. Afterall, imagine walking into a mall where there are tags dangling on everything - from the items being sold to furnitures and decors and display racks and cupboards and.. well you get the point.

Nettiquette #2. Share credit.

Yes, we're all striving to be unique and original, but just how many of us can come up with our own unique content? If you're sharing a content over social media that other people wrote, don't take credit from it. Chances are, someone else might find out and call your bluff. If you could also tag the owner's handle (Facebook profile/page, Twitter or instagram account name etc.) that would be great. If anything, you're helping to promote the original poster (or OP, for short) to get more audience while getting some of the limelight yourself - if that's what you're in for.

Nettiquette #3. Keep the boring status to yourself.

Yeap - those rhetorical questions, those first-world dilemma, pictures of every single meal, gym check-ins 5 times a week - I'm talking about all of those. Sure, it is a personal social media account for personal use - but posting about every single minute details of your own personal life is, in fact, akin to walking down the street naked while telling other people to close their eyes or not look at you. Showing off a little skin every now and then is fine, just not all the time. Remember, the less you reveal, the more mysterious you are, and the more attractive you become - at least to the online community. And remember when I say keep the boring statuses to yourself, I mean keep them off of your social media accounts.

Nettiquette #4. Be social.

Hey they don't call it 'social media' for nothing, y'know. I'm personally guilty on this. I don't socialize enough in the social media community. At best, I'd write a blog post or two and share it all over. I'd watch a video on YouTube and share that. I'd read an article someplace and share that. Then a random rant every few days. Getting on social media means you intend to make connections - personal or business, casual or serious - it also means keep up with the connections - saying 'Hi!' every now and then, getting to know a person or a business, and and letting them know you. Just remember Nettiquette #3.

Nettiquette #5. Respect & Respond

Everyone has a certain level of tolerance before losing their cool. Some lower than others. In that, we all need to respect each other's opinion, and respond empathetically. One particular type of response I'd like to address is what I call the double-edge response. These are characterised by justifying oneself with reference that only close friends and family really knows and understand the situation. Therein lies the problem - justifying yourself in that reference directly tells everyone else that they are not your family and/or close friends and that they don't understand the situation. Instead, consider Netiquette #3.

Image Copyright: Image is linked & credited to http://bit.ly/1bRvaUp.