What do you mean, Facebook has etiquette?

By:Ripley Ahlborn

Every year, more and more teenagers begin to use social media. There are hundreds of different sites, and people are constantly monitoring them. This is why it is important to know the rules of social media etiquette, says Jenna Linskens, a Marian professor in the School of Education. Linskens led the class through an exploration of the topic on July 23, 2013.

When the class was asked if anyone monitors their social media, very few people said “yes.” Linskens told the students that this was a trick question – someone is always monitoring their social media, whether it be website administrators, government, family, employers, or anyone else. The lack of privacy on such platforms as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, was heavily emphasized.

Linskens also gave students many tips for things to do and things not to do on social media. Things not to do include saying things you might regret, oversharing, or pretending to be someone you’re not. Some things she advised students to do included thinking ahead before posting, creating positive content, being polite, and always checking spelling and grammar.

At the end, Linskens left the students with some food for thought: always keep in mind your purpose for using social media, what you want to contribute to it, and what you hope to gain from it.

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