Savvy Girl, A Guide to Etiquette (13 page)
Read Savvy Girl, A Guide to Etiquette Online
Authors: Brittany Deal,Bren Underwood
Tags: #table manners, #thank you notes, #social etiquette, #entertaining, #dating etiquette, #thank you note etiquette, #bridesmaid etiquette, #maid of honor etiquette, #how to shine as your best self, #tech etiquette, #modern manners, #win friends, #etiquette expert, #proper social behavior, #respect, #social conduct, #charming, #etiquette advice, #good manners, #wedding etiquette, #move on over Emily Post, #polished, #self-help, #etiquette guide, #build confidence, #how to be your best self, #guest etiquette, #manners, #hosting, #host etiquette, #elegant, #being a great guest, #nice people, #social media etiquette, #the power of appreciation, #Etiquette
DO
upload an album from your big life moments—like your wedding, birthday celebration, your children, etc.—so you can share special memories and life events with your network.
DO
be positive and encouraging in your comments. No one likes a Negative Nelly.
DO
comment on friends’ photos and posts—just be sure you are OK with the world seeing whatever you write, as this content will show up in news feeds and on your own page.
DON’T
inundate friends’ news feeds with updates about every move you make.
DON’T
post anything disparaging or confrontational about your job, boss, coworkers, clients, or
anyone.
DON’T
post offensive political or religious rants that could upset others. You are entitled to your own opinion and have the right to voice it. However, think through how your audience might react to your post. And be aware of how these bold public statements may affect future jobs (especially should you one day choose to run for office).
DON’T
tag unflattering pictures of your friends. Follow the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
DON’T
engage in an argument with someone online so the world can see your disagreement.
BRITT:
DO YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT ALL FRIEND REQUESTS ON EACH PLATFORM?
BREN:
There is no obligation to accept all friend requests. It’s up to you whom you decide to add to your digital sphere of contacts. If someone has sent you a friend request and you’re not sure if/how you know them, take a look at their profile to double-check. That person may be a random—or may be a former coworker or friend from college.
BRITT:
WHEN IS IT OK TO DEFRIEND SOMEONE?
BREN:
Defriend whomever you choose! If you have ended a relationship or drifted from a past roommate, go ahead and remove that person from your friend list.
BRITT:
WHAT IF SOMEONE POSTS AN EMBARRASSING PICTURE OF YOU?
BREN:
If a friend (hopefully unintentionally) uploads unflattering or embarrassing pictures of you to an album (spring break, anyone?), contact your friend and ask him or her to take down the picture, or at least untag you in it. You should also enable privacy settings so that you can review any and all posts and photos that have you tagged in them.
I want to leave you with a parting thought, which is that you can never be too careful online. Everyone—from employers to college admissions counselors to potential lifelong mates—scan social-media sites to become better acquainted with you, and while you might think a picture or post is private, it’s
not.
Be savvy, be smart, and think twice when it comes to the online world.
You
are responsible for managing your online reputation. Have fun, go viral, but keep your digital reputation pristine.
[
BRITT:
From the beginning, I knew my husband was someone special. It was a Wednesday, and we had made plans to meet at McCormick & Schmick’s, a restaurant in between my office and his law school.
It was the standard “let’s grab drinks” test date to make sure there was enough chemistry to survive an entire dinner together. At first, I figured the date would be an hour tops, and then I’d be on my way home to curl up in my PJs and deep-condition my hair.
Fortunately for me, my split ends got no special treatment that night. From the moment I sat down, it was like lightning—I fell head over heels for that sexy law student before I even took my first sip of Chardonnay.
Our conversation flowed effortlessly as we covered everything from our career ambitions and hobbies to our families and favorite books. We had so much in common, and I felt like I could talk to him for hours. Eventually our server gave a loud cough and pointed to his watch; it was time to skedaddle. We were so wrapped up in our conversation that neither of us had noticed the completely empty restaurant.