How to avoid trouble in social media

“The trouble with a kitten is that eventually it becomes a cat.”

—Ogden Nash

By Alex P. Vidal

IN order to avoid trouble in the social media, may I respectfully suggest the following: 

1. BE HUMBLE. Refrain from feeling “sikat” (famous), special, and important. Let’s always plant our feet on the ground by showing that we belong. No one is superior here. “Ownership” of a Facebook account is not a special power or privilege. We are all at the beck and mercy of the Facebook administrator who has the authority to terminate our account if we misbehave.  

2. DON’T EMBARRASS OTHERS. If we don’t like or don’t agree with the comments or posts of others especially on topics about religion and politics, let’s not embarrass them. All opinions matter. We must avoid provocative and insulting comments. Don’t do to others what we wouldn’t want others do unto us. Respect begets respect. We can’t win an argument if we use bullying tactics. We don’t have the exclusive franchise to humiliate others; if we do, expect a retaliation and a slanderous brawl.

3. BE NICE; BE DECENT. Let’s use the social media to foster camaraderie and win friends (especially those we haven’t met in person but were always commenting on our walls). Let’s avoid the use of expletives and hurting words, if possible. If we have nothing good to say or post, post or say nothing. Just in case we inadvertently forget to “like” good and kind comments, let’s always reply with a “thank you.”

4. NO CURSING, PLEASE. If we have a domestic spat with our partners, children, parents, officemates, employers, employees; if we disagree with our electric and phone bills, let’s not declare an Armageddon in the social media. Let’s protect the social media’s internal ecosystem with a quality and above-board interaction; let’s not poison the Facebook community with laser-laced profanities if we are galit sa mundo (mad at the universe).

5. DON’T GOSSIP; DON’T SOW INTRIGUE. Gossiping and sowing of intrigues are the No. 1 killers of friendship, goodwill, and peace of mind; the No. 1 promoters of feud, bedlam, deep-seated strife in the social media. Let’s altogether discard and detest them.