Maybe it’s that we’ve gotten so used to convergent platforms. Our phones are calculators, cameras, computers, and God knows what else. But Facebook…well it’s just Facebook and trying to make it anything else usually results in failure. No matter what you do to your profile it will never be taken as seriously as a LinkedIn, which brings me to other forms of social media.
It’s a good idea to understand and, even maintain, other forms and not try to force your one profile to fit all your needs. Here are the best uses for the largest forms of social media:
1.) Facebook: Friends and family. This is a great way to stay in touch with family. Feel free to post those photos from Christmas and about your day. However, do not, use Facebook to take jabs at other people. No matter how angry you are, it will only make you look childish and scared of confrontation.
2.) Twitter: Use this for marketing yourself. Talk about your recent projects and how you’re coming along in them. Follow people and organizations in your field for inspiration and try to orient your twitter into a professional field so that others in this field will follow you. Then if facing professional obstacles you’re more likely to find help.
3.) LinkedIn: This is the professional Facebook. Use this only for work and furthering your careers. Users are almost exclusively professionals and you should pretend that your profile is your resume. You would only put things that best represent you as a professional and what is relevant to your career
No matter what you use, keep in mind that regardless of your privacy settings anyone can see what you have been posting so make sure it’s things you wouldn’t mind your future boss or your mother seeing.
xoxo, Tianna
Making Social Media Your BFF
Maybe it’s that we’ve gotten so used to convergent platforms. Our phones are calculators, cameras, computers, and God knows what else. But Facebook…well it’s just Facebook and trying to make it anything else usually results in failure. No matter what you do to your profile it will never be taken as seriously as a LinkedIn, which brings me to other forms of social media.
It’s a good idea to understand and, even maintain, other forms and not try to force your one profile to fit all your needs. Here are the best uses for the largest forms of social media:
1.) Facebook: Friends and family. This is a great way to stay in touch with family. Feel free to post those photos from Christmas and about your day. However, do not, use Facebook to take jabs at other people. No matter how angry you are, it will only make you look childish and scared of confrontation.
2.) Twitter: Use this for marketing yourself. Talk about your recent projects and how you’re coming along in them. Follow people and organizations in your field for inspiration and try to orient your twitter into a professional field so that others in this field will follow you. Then if facing professional obstacles you’re more likely to find help.
3.) LinkedIn: This is the professional Facebook. Use this only for work and furthering your careers. Users are almost exclusively professionals and you should pretend that your profile is your resume. You would only put things that best represent you as a professional and what is relevant to your career
No matter what you use, keep in mind that regardless of your privacy settings anyone can see what you have been posting so make sure it’s things you wouldn’t mind your future boss or your mother seeing.
xoxo, Tianna
Categories: Editorial
Author:TiannaManon
I absolutely love to write! I am a Journalism and Political-Science Dual-Degree at Rochester Institute of Technology. I hope to inspire all of my readers to better their own lives and to be proactive in their communities. There is nothing more important, or more rewarding, than giving back!Subscribe
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This was a good way to compare the pros and cons of the internet. People need to know how to use and protect themselves from the internet. Like the Craigs list killer. The girl that got killed didn’t protect herself enough, and ended up getting killed.
I disagree with this.. Facebook. yes. I agree with Facebook. But Twitter? No, it’s not just for marketing yourself or your business. It’s a place where you can meet new people and get to know them and where you can see what goes on in other people’s lives. I have a Twitter and a lot of people I meet on there aren’t on for marketing reasons but so they can have a chance to get to know other people in other countries. As for the other social media group, I have no idea what that is.
Hi heather- we were just offering an alternative use for twitter. I see what you’re saying though but if you use it the way you said, how do you keep your Facebook and twitter separate? For those who are trying to market themselves twitter is an excellent way to do so. Also, LinkedIn is a business form of social media. U upload your resume,you can connect with employers, etc.
Hey heather i kinda agree, twitter is a place to check up on all the cool things people are doing at that moment if they cant text. But then again people write harmful things anonymously and you would think they were talking about you, so there are pros and cons.
It is really sad that some people put technology before family and friends. they spend so much time on the computer that they don’t know how to socialize with people in real life. people need to get outside more and enjoy what the outside world has to offer. it is nice to see pictures of friends and family on Facebook, but to be on the internet for more than 6 hours is crazy. my sister is obsessed with the internet such as tumblr and other web sites i barely see her cause she could be up in her room for hours.
well, hailey, it’s true that technology such as social media can be used to connect or to disconnect. It’s tough for teens and for most adults to use it responsibly and safely. In that sense it is similar to other areas of life that get a lot of us in trouble, such as credit, driving, romance…the list goes on awhile.