How To Responsibly Use Social Media

Many people feel like social media is impacting their lives, both in positive and negative ways. A quick scroll through Twitter and you’ll no doubt come across a thread of people arguing for no apparent reason. While seeing people putting out what looks like the perfect life in photos can make you feel like a failure. Yet those pictures of loved ones and conversations with friends can really make your day. 

As such we want to make sure we are in control of our social media. That is a place that uplifts us every day, rather than pulling us down.  

Here are some tips on how to responsibly use social media. 

Choosing The Right Platform.

There are many social media platforms out there and choosing the right one can be tricky. First, off, however, you want to make sure you have easy access to the internet. You could do this by checking out social media streaming plans. These will help you know exactly what you can access and how much data you are allowed. 

You can then start looking into which platform works best for you. If you love sharing photos, Instagram might be perfect, for those who like quick, witty responses then twitter might be your go-to. While Facebook offers something for everyone. 

When signing up for a platform which needs a username, you need to choose the one you think you will like long term. If you are struggling to get a username, you can always add numbers or extra words if you cannot find your original choice. 

Set Up Your Privacy Settings

Once you have signed up to social media your next port of call should be setting up your privacy setting. These will help ensure you stay protected online. All social media platforms have a privacy policy which you read before sign up.

However, then it is up to you to head to your account settings and tailor them to your own preferences. 

For some this could be setting the account as private, preventing anyone but those you know from seeing what you post. Small details might be choosing who can send you friend requestions and direct messages, as well as choosing what information is public. 

Follow People You Know! (Or Don’t)

Social media is just that, social, and so sooner or later you’re sure to interact with people. This means you can follow people you may know or wish to engage with. 

Or, you might choose not to do that. That’s okay too.

Don’t feel an obligation to speak to the people you know from work or even your relatives. How you choose to use social media is totally up to you. Some people use Twitter anonymously, for instance, putting themselves behind a brand or behind a false name. That’s alright too.

Remember anything you post on social media, maybe around forever, even you delete the post and this can impact on your professional and social life. So always think twice before you post. Do you want everyone to see it?  

Follow People You Respect.

A social media feed can be a fantastic place to feel connected to those you admire. This might include athletes, artists, journalists and more. It may even motivate you to pick up an old craft, or to weigh in with your two cents.

Share & Contribute.

Sharing and contributing to social media is ultimately the main purpose of having an account. That doesn’t mean you have to comment on every single post you see or reply to every single thread, but it can be nice to contribute from time to time. Feel free to post your new makeup and nails, or that dinner you have cooked. What’s more, if you want to ask the recipe to a vegan meal you think looks delicious go for it.

Social media is ultimately much more fulfilling when you have people to bounce your ideas off, and they will often do the same for you. Social media can become boring and toxic when you only focus on the people who argue. Ultimately, social media is there to be used how you wish to use it. But to get the ball rolling, you need to share and contribute. 

If you are using a platform such as Instagram then researching into which hashtags will help promote your content to more people can be a wonderful idea. For instance, if you post nature photos, then this list of nature hashtags is a must. 

Now you can repost Instagram photos and videos from your favourite accounts to your own Instagram account. You just need to find a good app to save Instagram videos, Reels and photos. You shouldn’t use such apps to save photos and videos without the permission of the authorized owner.

Make Use of Mute & Block Features.

Remember, you can edit your social media feed how you want it. If you see conversations that you disapprove of, or that you wish to be rid of, you can always use mute and block features to help get away from that kind of behaviour. This can be thoroughly worthwhile because it gives you the chance to completely remove the negative content you wish to see.

Don’t be afraid to use these features. Life is too short to accept undue criticism or to have negative social experiences with people you will never meet. Little measures like this can often help you overcome the fear of engaging and contributing that you may have otherwise had. 

Pin it!