Social media can be a great tool if used properly, yet it can also be very dangerous in certain situations. Social media was meant to bring friends and family closer together, no matter the distance, but over the years it has evolved into a powerful tool that can give users a great advantage as well as destroy lives. Yes, destroy lives.
Raise your hand if you have ever had a really bad day that sent you straight to a social media platform like Facebook to vent your frustration and anger to the world.
Now raise your hand again if you have called anyone out on your post in a heated moment?
And raise it once more if you have ever posted to your account that you are on vacation or your exact whereabouts at that very moment.
Believe me, I've been there and can raise my hand in all of those situations. But what we do not realize is that when we post to social media, we aren't just venting because we are angry, or because we are excited about our next road adventure or shopping trip, we are sharing those moments with others.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen posts that have called out someone else in anger. Posts that reveal private details of other people's lives, those we don't know, yet assume they are a bad guy because so and so that is a friend or family member, said so. It's called gossip guys anyway you think about it and it can destroy lives.
I also can't tell you how many negative posts I see shared about other people whom they don't even know except what the media has reported. Social Media platforms are so much worse than the news because it's just too easy to post something and have people believe it.
It's also too easy to destroy a life with social media, including your own. You know that post you shared about your bad day at work and how much you hate your job and why?
Well, your boss just saw how you downed his company, so now you're out of a job. Sure you can not accept a friendship request from your supervisor, but there will always be a way for them to hear about or see that post. You could even lose your job for bashing someone over social media.
Yet you are not only risking destroying your own life, your risking that person you bashed as well. And if that post goes viral? Not only did you just contribute to destroying that person's life, chances are you destroyed their reputation and may have even caused them legal and financial damage. They may lose their job and not be able to find other work. Think before you post. Don't post because you are angry.
And finally, don't post where you are going and when. This can lead to stalkers and burglaries. Don't post photos of your exact location either. Just because you have not said where you are going does not mean someone doesn't know that location! And don't let others know that you are going to be on vacation. You are inviting people to break into your home because you have told them the house is empty. Wait to post photos or about your vacation adventure after you get home. Wait to post about your shopping trip after you have left the area because you just never know if someone is following you.
On Another Note:
If you find that you are a victim of an angered attack on social media, ask the person to kindly remove the post and document everything. If the post has caused you to lose your job, ruined your reputation, take legal action, especially if you are in the right. Arm yourself with proof and hire a lawyer, but don't fire back at the person online. Save it for court.
If you are behind a post that you believe you have every right to share, share with caution. Just because you believe that you are in the right doesn't mean that person can't sue you in court. Just because you didn't know or didn't mean to, doesn't mean you aren't putting your own life at risk.
All you can do is stay calm and find a sweet voice to support each other