Social media sites can be a great way to keep in contact with friends and family across the globe. It’s a place to share news, pictures, passions, and generally celebrate our lives together as a wider community.
Using social media sites, however, does have its negative side, too, as we know. Issues surrounding bullying, body image, racist judgment, and many more topics have hit the headlines over the years.
It’s always important to think before you post online. Remember, just because you’re behind a screen, it doesn’t make what you’re posting unreal. Everything that you release online will have an impact on someone, so make sure that it leaves them with a smile.
With that being said, certain topics are often overlooked and posted about without a second thought; at first glance, they come across as seemingly innocent. However, these types of posts can have a considerable impact on people’s lives and should be avoided.
Births
The birth of a baby is always an exciting time, and on-lookers waiting for the news of the little one’s arrival will find themselves hovering social media for that always beautiful announcement post.
This post must come from the parents! It’s their special moment, and they are more than likely too busy to update their followers straight away, so be patient. Don’t be the one to steal their thunder if you hear down the grapevine that the baby has arrived. Remember that their family is the priority, so allow them time to spread the news themselves.
Furthermore, birthing a baby is an exhausting thing, parents may want a few days together with the baby before the world comes knocking at their door, and the congratulatory messages pour in. Please respect their privacy!
Deaths
The news of a death is a devastating one, and this news shouldn’t be announced on social media. Yes, posts can be a great way to spread the word far and fast but be empathetic to those who are closest to them and are dealing with their grief privately.
The last thing a family member or close friend wants is to find out via social media that a loved one has passed. If you do have to pass on this information to somebody and can’t meet face to face, then a phone call or even a private message would be a better option than announcing it to the world.
Take the families lead and wait for their post to send condolence messages or share memorable photos. This is another instance where you need to respect the privacy of others.
Crime
Social media has become a useful platform to bring together communities when tackling crime. For example, posting CCTV footage to search for somebody, finding stolen pets, or tracking vehicles involved in a crime.
This being said, you should avoid posts that incite gossip and speculation as these can do more damage than good to your case if you’re involved in a crime. Discussing your case online, replying to questions, and giving out information about others involved can have serious consequences and hinders the justice system immensely.
If you are being accused of a crime, then your actions online can have a detrimental effect on your defense. This link explains how you can get in touch with a defense attorney that will be able to explain further the dos and don’ts for a strong defense case.
Personal Information
Posting personal information online is a risky thing to do. People feel safe amongst their online communities, especially those that have tried their hardest to clamp down their privacy settings so that only people who you accept can see their account.
However, fake accounts are rife, and truthfully the majority of us do have online friends that we don’t actually know. Posting a harmless comment with your phone number or address could see you being a victim of a crime such as fraud and burglary.
This is also true for school photographs; don’t let somebody recognize your child’s school emblem and do them harm. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Open Invitations
Inviting friends and family to an event you are hosting, such as a house party, is a very common thing to use social media for. These sites have specific group pages you can create for this purpose to stop you from posting invitations to the broader network.
An open invitation online can travel much further than you think. Posting an open invitation to the entirety of your friends and followers could see you in an uncomfortable position. A party that’s getting out of hand can end up drawing the attention of the police, and next thing you know, you have a Project X situation in your living room!
Think Before You Post!
Ultimately, remember that what you post online is there for life and can have either a positive or negative effect on your future career and relationships. We all enjoy our privacy, and you should ensure that you’re respecting others while keeping yourself protected when using social media.
Don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger from your keyboard and always think about the effect you will have on others before you post.
