I
have stated a number of times that Netiquette for email has many core
principles which are similar with Facebook. The article below echoes
this.
The 10 Golden Rules Of Facebook Etiquette
Your
Tango February 20, 2015
By
Tom Miller
Facebook,
like nuclear technology, is a tool that can be used for good as well as evil.
And there are clearly some people who lack the ability (or desire) to use
either responsibly.
One of
my all-time favorite Facebook stories involved a recent college graduate
backtracking it to the old Alma Mater on a recruiting trip. He went to a
neighborhood watering hole, flashed some of that first-year cash and, later,
worked on his night moves with a fine, young coed. Unfortunately, he knew she
was going to Facebook (it’s a verb now) him and he still had a few days in
College Town, USA. So, he did the prudent thing and changed his status to
Single. He and his old girl were on the rocks and he thought he’d enjoy the
rest of the trip. This was how now ex-girlfriend found out. She was dumped by
Facebook.
And
because this is neither Vietnam nor the Wild West, we decided to implement some
rules of etiquette for Mark Zuckerberg’s handiwork.
Here
are the top 10 rules of etiquette for using Facebook responsibly in and around
relationships:
1. Relationship status is a mutual decision. As illustrated above, lots of
problems can arise from a unilateral status change. All of your friends get
that update in real time - not a fun way to find out that the dream is over.
2. It’s OK to look through your friend’s friends for people you might want to
meet/date/friend. It’s not OK to skip the middleman on the introduction. I get
freaked out when anyone I don’t know tries to friend me. I assume they’re
trying to sell me something, stalking me or both. As always, be mindful of
friend-poaching, it’s not cool.
3. Ask first before friending a close friend’s ex-squeeze. It’s
common courtesy and it’s part of the bro code.
4. It’s OK to remain friends with someone you used to date on Facebook. We can
be grown-ups about this. Just prepare yourself to see some status updates that
you could probably do without.
5. Posting a ton of pics, vids and comments regarding a recent, failed
relationship is a bad idea. If you need a lifeline, phone a friend don’t ask
the audience.
6. As
with all things, there is such thing as too much information. The airing of grievances
are best done over email, telephone and brunch. Likewise, starting a group
about how “John Tucker must die,” while possibly cathartic, smacks of sour
grapes. Starting a Facebook group called “I Hooked Up With Dane Cook And All I
Got Was This Lousy Comedy CD” is, however, hilarious. Also, keep them photos
safe for work.
7. This is sort of an addendum to 2 previous rules, but it bears its own space:
Don’t friend an ex’s new squeeze if you’re not actually friends. It’s easy not
friending someone. In fact, it takes more energy to friend someone than not
friend them. Nothing good can come of this. It’s the social media equivalent of
John Cusack watching through the eyes of John Malkovich’s daughter as Cameron
Diaz and Catherine Keener kiss in the end of Being John Malkovich. No, life
isn’t fair.
8. Know the difference between the Timeline and a private message. Facebook
should devise a multiple-choice test for every new member. It will include
questions like: The note “I luv u sooooo much baaaaaaaaby. I can’t waaaaaaait
too seeee u 2nite” belongs in A) a private message; B) the timeline or C) a
coloring book for the mentally-special. In addition, know when and whom to
Poke, Super Poke, Gift and, if it exists, Super Gift.
9. The interweb is not a therapy session and shouldn’t be used with severely
impaired judgment. For instance, there are only 2 occasions when you tell
someone that you had a huge crush on them in high school (if you must): a
best-selling memoir or in a situation where you think this may get them to
sleep with you … in the next 15 minutes. Definitely not on their Facebook
Timeline.
10. Above all other rules (in this actually is in the Facebook rules), do not
create a fake page as a way to punish an ex. Creating a page about your old
flame and including; “pooping in the bed,” “giving people crabs” and “stealing
from people I date” as favorite pastimes may seem funny, but it’s petty and
it’s a pretty good way to get sued for like $40,000 (see the case of Raphael,
Grant).
Follow
these 10 simple rules and people across the land will say, “Hey, that [insert
your name] is pretty responsible with [insert your gender-specific possessive
pronoun] use of Facebook in a relationships setting.”
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In addition to this blog, Netiquette IQ has a website with great
assets which are being added to on a regular basis. I have authored the
premiere book on Netiquette, “Netiquette IQ - A Comprehensive Guide to Improve,
Enhance and Add Power to Your Email". My new book, “You’re Hired! Super Charge
Your Email Skills in just 60 Minutes. . . And Get That Job!” will be published soon
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Lehrman Group, a worldwide network of subject matter experts and have been a
contributor to numerous blogs and publications.
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