Organizations big and small are getting in the social media game, even if they aren’t quite sure what their success metrics are. Twitter is integrated into the iPhone’s OS. Our phones have cameras, we can shoot photos and video everywhere we go. We check in. We share where we go, what we ate, what we saw and who was there. Facebook Timeline makes us feel like our whole life should be documented from start to finish in photos and status updates.
The message is clear: be social.
But if you make a mistake, we jump. Accidentally tweet something you meant to DM? Get caught on video doing something rude? Have a bad photo taken? Write something that wasn’t what you meant to say? Forget it, it’s out there forever. And the simple advice is usually, “don’t be a jerk”.
I suppose the people who give that advice have never been jerks. To anyone. Ever.
Do It Right
We expect people to replicate their lives online but for the online version to be error-free. Want to get a good job? You’d better be able to demonstrate your expertise when someone Googles you. A resume is not enough. Your work needs to speak for itself, online.
And for God’s sake be authentic. That’s the way to succeed! Be who you are. People will know if you aren’t being you. But not too you. Just you enough that you don’t seem fake. But keep your sketchy opinions to yourself.
On the fourth hand, if you don’t offend anyone, you’re doing it wrong.
It’s crazy. And it’s all said and done to tell people how to build an online version of the person they already are.
But who we already are is imperfect. We are all jerks sometimes. We all say stupid things sometimes. We don’t know when we’re about to do it, otherwise we wouldn’t, right?
So all this advice – authenticity, don’t be a jerk – it’s all kind of silly. If you use social tools, you will eventually mess up. You will. It’s ok. Or at least it can be ok.
Be Nicer
Here’s how. The next time you see someone else mess up, don’t jump on them. The next time someone tweets something you think is stupid, keep it to yourself. Your tweet about their dumb tweet makes two dumb tweets.
Just let it be. Focus more on what you like about people online than on the “20 things that have to die”. Give people a break. Yes, that person probably is being a jerk. But tomorrow it might be your turn. And then it might be mine.
Just like in real life.
Your thoughts?
[Image credit: Hobbes Yeo]
I'm an internet marketing consultant and a 16 year veteran of the internet marketing industry. My roles have spanned digital strategy, website management, search engine optimization, social media marketing and business process management. I'm fascinated by the way internet technologies change how we learn, vote, shop and give. 
