1) Online
relationships are not a suitable replacement for in person relationships. I
know this is somewhat obvious but it seems that it may not be totally obvious
to everyone.
2) Social
media is neutral.
I have
a friend who believes that social media is inherently bad. I disagree with his
assessment. In my opinion social media is, basically, neutral. It is a
communication tool. In that sense it is like a telephone, or a letter sent
through the mail, or even a radio broadcast.
Is it
possible for social media to be used in bad ways? Yes, of course it is.
But it
is possible for social media to be used in good ways, too.
Is it
possible for people to waste time on social media? Yes, of course it is. But
people have been extraordinarily accomplished at wasting time loooooong before
social media ever came along. Social media is not responsible for the fine art
of time wasting.
(In
high school, way before social media existed, I was an expert at wasting time.)
And it
is possible for people to use social media in ways that optimize the use of
their time, particularly when it comes to communicating a message.
3) If you
are really angry and feel compelled to post something to express your angry
feelings it would be wise to wait a few minutes. In some cases, it might even
be wise to wait a day or two. Remember anything that is posted online can be
retrieved again, even if it is deleted. Think about it like this: Don’t post
anything you wouldn’t want every person you know (including those who are not
online) to see, including your mother, your boss, your grandmother, your pastor/priest/clergy,
your children, your grandchildren, the Nobel Prize Selection Committee… you get
the point.
4) For
some reason, many people seem to be willing to be more caustic, abrasive and
mean-spirited online than they would typically be in a firsthand, personal
encounter. It is best not to sink to this level.
5) It is
easy to get fooled by content which is posted online. We have probably all seen
examples of people re-posting—with righteous indignation—an article which
verifies a point of view they espouse. They post with an attitude like this, “See?
I told you people this was happening. This article substantiates what I’ve been
saying all along!”
And
then someone in the comments section points out that the piece is fictional. It
is satire from a site like The Onion. Earlier today I heard a very smart man (a
philosopher with two PhDs) talk about being fooled by content he had read
online. Be cautious when it comes to online content. Whenever possible, check
the source.
You’ve
probably seen this line, it is a good reminder: “Everything you read on social
media isn’t true.” – Abraham Lincoln
Dan
Marler
The
White House
Washington,
DC
(Remember,
it’s helpful to be cautious and verify what you’re reading.)
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