Seems to me that rules and standards about social media etiquette are still emerging and, characteristic of the medium, they are being negotiated by the people who are using social media. The novelty of the medium, its interconnectedness and its ability to transmit a message across very wide audiences means that there is an ongoing debate about how it should be used and how users should behave.
However, there also seems to be a consensus emerging around etiquette, which unsurprisingly would serve us well in our personal relationships. There’s quite a bit of chat about it but here are my seven:
1. Be giving – respect needs to be earned by referencing and helping others
2. Be patient – respect and influence will come but this needs to be built gradually
3. Listen – it’s easy to misinterpret what others are saying so take time to hear what they are saying
4. Say something interesting – of course (!) but the key to influence is to say things that others will be interested in
5. Be authentic – if it isn’t real you’ll get found out
6. Relinquish control – you’re a participant in a sea of opinion you cannot hope to control
7. Be nice and friendly – this really is the crux of it and this attitude will serve you well
Let me know what you think!
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