Social Media - What does your "Online Footprint" say about you?

"Did you see the picture I posted of my kids yesterday?" "Did you see Joe's status yesterday? He must have been having a really bad day." Everywhere you go these days, someone is talking about something they saw or heard on a social media site. Truth is, to some people sites like Facebook or Twitter are ways to stay connected to distant relatives and friends. To others, it's a hot spot to play games and get the latest gossip. The later of the two groups are the ones who give the social media frenzy a bad name.  So what are a couple things you can do as a user on these sites to avoid getting "blocked" or annoying the people you know. 

  • Be considerate. Don't post gossip or inappropriate photos just to see how much attention you can get. Don't send me game invites every day. If I didn't sign up for the game after the last 3 invites I'm probably not going to sign up today either.
  • Be respectful of opinions. It's important to remember that everyone has the right to their own opinion. Just because they feel different than you, doesn't mean they are wrong.
  • Avoid constant bragging. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that you love your job or started a new hobby, but seriously, I don't need to hear about it every single day.
  • It's not all about the #'s. No one cares whether you have 40 or 950 friends. Don't add people just because you pass them in the grocery store once a month. If you have no intentions of carrying on a face-to-face conversation with me, don't ask me to be your friend.


One thing that people forget when posting to social media sites is that everything you say, do or post is a direct reflection of you, your family and friends and/or the company you work for. By showing a genuine interest in your friends lives and taking the time to build relationships just like you would face-to-face will help you create a positive "online footprint". People will think much more of your relationship with them if you are helpful and supportive in your interactions.

Missy Haugen - Member Solutions Supervisor