Archive for the ‘Social Media Etiquette’ Category

30 Dec 2020
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Social Media New Year Pledge 2021

As we close 2020 and move into 2021 (can I get an “AMEN”?!), it’s time to meet the new year with a pledge for online safety & good social media etiquette. This is updated information for 2021! (See 2020’s Social Media New Year Pledge here.)

Take the Social Media New Year Pledge for 2021!

Social Media New Year Pledge 2021

For a deeper dive into each one of the bullet points of the pledge, read below.

I WILL:

Know Friends & Followers

Let me address your Personal Facebook Profile (this is not your Facebook Business Page) and your Instagram Account.

Personal Facebook Profile Friends:

I hope by now that you are NOT accepting every friend request that crosses your path without doing a little search about the person.

– Who are mutual friends?

– Does the Profile look real? How new is it? How often is it updated?

When in doubt, click the “Delete Request” button.

Personal Facebook Profile Followers:

Are you aware that people can follow you personally without a friend request? Do you know who is currently following you? My guess is you will be surprised.

On a computer (not the app), go to your Profile.

  • Click “Friends”.
  • Choose “More” and click on “Followers”.
  • Who ARE these people? If you feel uncomfortable with anyone following you, BLOCK!

Instagram Account:

BEFORE following an account back, click on it and determine if it’s real.

Red flags:

  • You don’t recognize the name or picture and the account is “Private” (block!)
  • For Women: the account is someone dressed in military uniform or scrubs; leaning against a car, plane or boat; shirtless and showing off his muscles/six-pack; OR with a child or animal etc. (I hate to tell you, but that isn’t the person following you!)
  • For Men: the account is a scantily clad woman. (Again, I hate to tell you, but that isn’t the person following you!)

You are putting yourself and all of your friends at risk when you accept requests from people you do not know. Take a look at the profile and make a better decision.

Refrain from Taking Facebook Quizzes!

Taking quizzes could put you at risk for identity theft. You do NOT need to know which Disney Princess you are or what color your aura is from Facebook!

Verify Page Information Before Engaging with Contests

When you see an opportunity to win something BIG by sharing on Facebook, you should think DANGER, DANGER! (Examples: RV’s, Vacations, Southwest Tickets, etc.)

Likely the Page is not the “real” Facebook Business Page for the Business. Look for these clues:

  • Does the Page have an official blue checkmark next to its name?
  • Have you checked to see when the Page was created? Newer Pages with big contests are always scams!
  • How many followers are on Page holding the contest?
  • Do a search on Facebook for the Page Name. My guess is you will find the real (blue check verified page).

If it seems too good to be true, IT IS!

PS: If you see a post that says something like, “Winner Jack Smith was underage, so you get a second chance”…please do NOT engage. This type of contest typically asks for you to click on a link and provide personal information to win. DO NOT click OR provide any information and report the page as spam!

Resist Sharing “Copy & Paste” Posts 

When you see something that everyone seems to be copying and pasting, do some research first to find out if what you are seeing is real or fake. These include posts about Facebook stealing your photos, charging for use etc. It also includes some of the missing persons, sick kids, etc. Do your homework before blindly passing on.

In addition, when you copy and paste, a hacker can search Facebook (or any social platform) for a phrase from the post and then find the people that shared it. This makes you a target for a scam or hack because you appear more gullible if you are one that will copy and paste something.

CANnonDo: When you see “copy and paste”, DON’T!

Research Before Sharing “Breaking Stories”

Before posting something showing “breaking news”, do a quick Google search!

  • Is the information from a reliable source?
  • Have you read the article/blog/news or just the headline? If just the headline, go back and read the information and then research for accuracy.

Stop Passing Along Chain Letters Via Facebook Messenger

You receive a message via Facebook Messenger that requests you to post something to your wall (like a heart) and/or to share with at least 10 or more of your friends or something similar. These are chain letters.

Chain letters can help spread links to phishing scams that steal online account credentials or malicious websites that infect computers or mobile devices with viruses, spyware, ransomware or other malware.

Receive Permission Before Adding Anyone to Email Lists

Having an email address does not give you permission to add anyone to any list. Neither does having a business card or making a LinkedIn connection. Adding without permission is considered SPAM. It also violates some laws that can carry with it some hefty fines.

If you have a list and want to add someone, ASK THEM!

Be safer online in 2021!

By taking the Social Media New Year Pledge 2021 and following the guidelines, you are well on your way to protecting your reputation online. You are also protecting the people that follow you.

Here’s to a safe, healthy and successful New Year in 2021!

New Year 2020
26 Dec 2019
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Social Media New Year Pledge 2020

As we start a new year, it’s time for a reminder about good etiquette and safety when using social media. PS: Updated information for New Year 2020!

Take this Social Media New Year Pledge for 2020!

Social Media New Year Pledge 2020

For more information about the items pledged in the Social Media New Year Pledge graphic, below is a longer and more in-depth outline of the items.  

I WILL NOT:

• Take Facebook Quizzes!

Taking quizzes could put you at risk for identity theft (more information below). Do yourself and DO NOT do Facebook quizzes in the new year!

• Pass Along Chain Letters!

Facebook posts that ask you to post something to your wall (like a heart) and/or to share with at least 10 or more of your friends are chain letters.

Many times this will come to you in the form of a Messenger post.

As above, so it is true here: chain letters and quizzes can help spread links to phishing scams that steal online account credentials or malicious websites that infect computers or mobile devices with viruses, spyware, ransomware or other malware.

Pledge in the new year to NOT pass along Chain Letters.

• Share a Picture of a Plane Ticket, RV, Car, Jewelry,
etc. to Win!

See above AND know that hackers are looking for people that
“fall” for these bogus prizes so they can target them for another kind of scam.

• Copy & Paste a Post “Just in Case”!

When you see something that everyone seems to be copying and
pasting, do some research first to find out if what you are seeing is real or
fake. These include posts about Facebook stealing your photos, charging for use
etc. It also includes some of the missing persons, sick kids, etc. Do your
homework before blindly passing on.

In addition, when you copy and paste, a hacker can search Facebook (or any social platform) for a phrase from the post and then find the people that shared it. This makes you a target for a scam or hack because you appear more gullible if you are one that will copy and paste something which makes you more of a target.

• Accept Friend Requests from Strangers.

You are putting yourself and all of your friends at risk when you accept requests from people you do not know. Take a look at the profile and make a better decision. Profiles that are new or have only a picture of the person are usually clues that something is off. On Instagram, if it’s “private” I would block.

2020 Update: It was just announced that several recent fake accounts were generated by artificial intelligence. These accounts are used to spread false information. They use fake accounts to evade detection and funnel traffic to their websites full of fake information that is made specifically to add to the political propaganda. 

Here’s a link to an article for more info: https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-removes-accounts-ai-generated-photos/

• Post Celebrity Deaths without Verifying.

How many times has Betty White and Morgan Freeman died?

Do a Google search first.

• SPAM My Friends with My Business.

Get a professional business page on Facebook or other platform and use this to promote your business. If you want more friends involved, ASK THEM if they want to join a Facebook Group so you can share more information. On your personal profile, DO NOT constantly promote with product updates and sales. It’s against Facebook rules and frankly, you are alienating your friends. With your business page, an occasional share to your personal side is fine. More than once a week is pushing it!

• Add Anyone to an Email List without Having Permission.

Having an email address does not give you permission to add anyone to any list. Neither does having a business card or making a LinkedIn connection. Adding without permission is considered SPAM. You must ask permission before adding to a list (or have someone opt-in).

In conclusion: These are just a few of the regular items I see that are putting you AND your reputation at risk online.

Do you have any others you would like to add?

Here’s to a successful New Year in 2020!

Want to keep up with Social Media trends as well as learn more about social media for your business? Ask to join my Facebook Group!

27 Dec 2017
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Social Media New Year’s Pledge 2019

(Update 2019)

As we start a new year, it’s time for a reminder about good etiquette and safety when using social media by taking this Social Media New Year’s Pledge for 2019!

(Be sure to read the why’s below the pledge!)

 

Why are the items in the Social Media New Year’s Pledge in the graphic are so important? Read on…

Social Media New Year’s Pledge…

I WILL NOT:

• Take Facebook Quizzes!

Taking quizzes could put you at risk for identity theft (more information below).

• Pass Along Chain Letters!

Facebook Messenger posts that ask you to post something to your wall (like a heart) and/or to share with at least 10 or more of your friends are chain letters.

As above, so it is true here: chain letters and quizzes can help spread links to phishing scams that steal online account credentials or malicious websites that infect computers or mobile devices with viruses, spyware, ransomware or other malware.

• Share a Picture of a Plane Ticket, RV, Car, Jewelry, etc. to Win!

See above AND know that hackers are looking for people that “fall” for these bogus prizes so they can target them for another kind of scam.

• Copy & Paste a Post “Just in Case”!

When you see something that everyone seems to be copying and pasting, do some research first to find out if what you are seeing is real or fake. These include posts about Facebook stealing your photos, charging for use etc. It also includes some of the missing persons, sick kids, etc. Do your homework before blindly passing on.

• Accept Friend Requests from Strangers.

You are putting yourself and all of your friends at risk when you accept requests from people you do not know. Take a look at the profile and make a better decision. Profiles that are new or have only a picture of the person are usually clues that something is off.

• Post Celebrity Deaths without Verifying.

How many times have Betty White and Morgan Freeman died? Do a Google search first.

• SPAM My Friends with My Business.

Get a professional business page on Facebook or other platform and use this to promote your business. If you want more friends involved, ASK THEM if they want to join a Facebook Group so you can share more information. On your personal profile, DO NOT do before-and after shots and constant product updates and sales. It’s against Facebook rules and frankly, you are alienating your friends. With your business page, an occasional share to your personal side is fine. More than once a week is pushing it!

• Add Anyone to Facebook Groups without Asking.

Ask first, otherwise it’s like SPAM.

• Add Anyone to an Email List without Having Permission.

Having an email address does not give you permission to add anyone to any list. Neither does having a business card or making a LinkedIn connection. Adding without permission is considered SPAM and against the Can-Spam Laws (learn more from this helpful guide).

• Share Old Content As New

Actually click on a link before sharing. Many times when you click, you will find that the content is several months or years old. (This is a good time to verify the information as correct.)

ALSO, as stated above, when sharing information about “Missing” people, it’s a good idea to see how old the information is and to verify if the person is still missing.

These are just a few of the items I regularly see that are putting you and your reputation at risk online.

Do you have any others you would like to add?

Comment below or share on my Facebook Business Page. 

Since you are interested in tips for the new year…read 11 Social Media Tips to Jump Start Your New Year,

Here’s to a successful 2019! Happy New Year!