On Monday I posted the first three of seven types of online behavior that seem so obviously wrong that nobody should need to be told not to do them. This morning I’m back with the other four.
4. Obey the Rules
Regardless of what anyone tells you (including me), you should read the rules, policies and privacy statements of any social media websites you register with. You need to know what you are and are not permitted to do on each site, and also what others may and may not do to you. The rules are different on each site so you need to check.
For example, LinkedIn promotes itself as a networking platform for professionals and they expect corresponding “professional” behavior. This includes using your real name and photograph (if you include one) in your profile–no nicknames, no cartoons or pictures of your kids. Facebook and Twitter are more social than professional and allow you to use nicknames, your company or organization name, and nearly anything that isn’t likely to be considered obscene or offensive. Still, if you are using Twitter or Facebook to promote yourself professionally–and especially if you link between either of those and your LinkedIn profile–you’ll want to keep it businesslike.