Social Media Etiquette for Kids (of all ages)

How to avoid Facebook faux pas, Insta-fails and more!

In a few short years my oldest will turn 13 and be legally old enough to have a Facebook or Twitter account. But there are several rules of etiquette I want him to understand before he joins the social media world. These rules are not meant to spoil his fun, but to help him avoid Facebook faux pas, Insta-fails, and other social pitfalls.

The most important rule to remember is — You have a responsibility to protect your reputation and those of your friends around you. There is a fine line between being yourself online and not making everyone else uncomfortable.

Here are 10 rules for acceptable and unacceptable online behavior.

Rule 1: Think before you share

Social media is not your private diary. Before you hit “post” or “tweet,” ask yourself what value your comment offers and what your motivation might be. Not every moment in your life is worthy of a status update, so don’t “over share.”

Also, consider the potential eyes on your profile. Would you be comfortable if your grandmother read your post? What about a college review board or a potential employer?

Here’s a quick list of what not to share:

Over the top party pictures
Stupidly insensitive jokes
R-rated memes
Embarrassing pictures of yourself or others
Relationship drama
Insults about teachers, classmates, coworkers or managers
Comments that are cruel and insensitive
Links to questionable web content
Gossip
Hate

Rule 2: Ask before tagging someone in a photo

Tagging may seem harmless to you, but others can view it as an invasion of privacy. The first time you post a photo of someone, don’t tag her, but send an e-mail or message with a link to the photo. Ask if it is okay for you to post the picture and whether she is comfortable with being tagged in the future. You may think that pic of “Sarah” passed out at a party is funny, but she may think otherwise!

Rule 3: Don’t be offensive

Things that are perfectly OK to say face-to-face, even in front of friends, aren’t necessarily OK online — and vice versa. It’s super easy for your tone to be misunderstood. People can’t see your facial expressions. They can’t hear your tone. All they see are the words you wrote. And if they don’t know you well, they may find your comments offensive rather than funny.

Also, no one is truly anonymous. Everything you post online is traceable. It doesn’t matter whether you delete the message or text. When you post something online, you’re creating a permanent cyber fingerprint. It may come back to haunt you. So be careful what you say.

Rule 4: Take complaints and arguments offline

We understand if you’re upset with a teacher or mad at a friend. Everyone has bad days. Just keep your venting offline. Don’t post negative rants or ugly comments about people on your account, and don’t post them on other people’s accounts!

Remember, words are powerful. So choose your words wisely. If you wouldn’t speak to that person that way face to face, then don’t do it online.

Rule 5: Think before you reply to a negative comment

If someone says something negative about you, the best option is to simply not respond. If you know the person, go offline to clear up the disagreement. If you don’t know the person and feel the need to respond, think twice before you write anything negative.

It’s never a good idea to post something when you’re emotional. Take some time to clear your head (or sober up) before you deal with the situation. Walk away from the keyboard. Compose a reply and get a trusted adult or friend to review it for you. This will help you refrain from saying something that you later regret.

Rule 6: “Unplug” around family and friends

Yes, it’s a normal impulse to stare at a glowing object in your hand. But texting or checking social media while someone is talking to you, is just as rude as if you were to get up and leave them in mid-sentence. Please don’t do it!

When you’re out with other people, unplug and put away your smart phone or tablet. Focus on the people around you. Be respectful and give them the courtesy of your undivided attention.

Rule 7: Ration the “selfies”

We love you and enjoy seeing pics of you, but please don’t flood our timelines with your selfies.

Also, be smart about what pictures go online and what pictures are simply for your own entertainment. Keep them in good taste. If you are doing anything you don’t want your grandmother to see, don’t take the picture.

There are wrong places and wrong times for posting selfies. Don’t post pictures of questionable gags or illegal activities. And for heaven’s sake, DON’T post pictures of yourself at a funeral! It’s beyond rude and tacky!

Rule 8: Don’t kiss and tell

It’s OK to be cute, but there is such a thing as too much information. From the sweet (tweet) nothings to the fights, keep the important stuff offline. It’s like the Internet version of public displays of affection — some people just don’t like it.

If you’re at the end of a relationship, a running commentary about your breakup does nothing to help the situation. Obviously, it’s important not to suppress your emotions, but a private journal or time with a therapist (or trusted adult) is best for that.

Rule 9: #don’t #overuse #hashtags

Using hashtags as a punchline for your jokes is fine. Just don’t misuse or abuse them. Consider the length of your hashtags. Long hashtags are aggravating to read and most people just end up giving up. Plus long series of hashtags are just plain annoying. (See Jimmy Kimmel’s video: #Hashtag)

Rule 10: Exercise the Golden Rule

The Golden Rule simply states, “You must treat others in the same way that you would want to be treated in the same situation.” It doesn’t matter how others behave. Don’t dish out anything that you don’t want to take. You don’t have to be a doormat. Just be considerate, thoughtful, and fair in how you treat others online.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo Credit: 123RF Stock Photo

Social Media Etiquette for Kids (of all ages)