Social media is one of the largest and the most important parts of today’s modern life. We create our social images through various sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Northeastern University’s ‘College of Science’, a trio of social media experts (Jeff Cutler, Lisa Van Der Pool, Todd Van Hoosear) discuss about a few regulations of these various platforms.
Firstly, the experts discuss the serious objectives of social media, where all these sites can actually help, as platforms, in promoting your personal brand and organisation. Hence these sites can serve as social media channels, giving amazing news sources, and have already started revolutions. Secondly, the experts quote, “you are a brand”. You need to think carefully about all the personal information that you wish to upload on these sites. It is important to maintain an up-to-date biography for people to know you.
Next, your content should be equally distributed in three areas (hence, called as ‘the rule of thirds’): ‘self-promotional’, ‘interactive’, and ‘informational’. One cannot afford to dominate only on one area among these three and create imbalance. Proceeding to next rule, experts says it is crucial to identify and know which platform on social media denotes what and does what. There is a different philosophy and approach for various sites. For example, Facebook is specifically for connecting people and Twitter is used to put forward your opinions and make yourself known.
Lastly, and the most important aspect of social media, is that it is a platform that attracts and receives lakhs and lakhs of audience. Nothing that prevails on these sites can be regarded as personal or private. Even if the account is deleted, the photos and media that you have uploaded can be traced, obtained, and used against you. “It is important to be careful when you tweet, and realize that everything you put online is forever” says the experts.
Akshara Palshetkar
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