The

10 Commandments
of Social Media
(Or, Everything I Need to Know
about Using Social Networking Sites
I Learned from My Grandmother)
By: Lauren McSwain-Starrett
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

10

Commandments of Social Media

I. Remember your profile

page, to keep it holy.
II. Honor thy friends and
relatives by posting
carefully.
III. Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy
neighbor.
IV. Thou shalt make thy
stream useful & relevant.
V. Thou shalt take care of
housekeeping.

VI. Thou shalt still talk in person when

appropriate.
VII. Thou shalt use caution when posting online.
VIII. Thou shalt not put thyself or thy loved ones in
danger.
IX. Thou shalt take full advantage of the tools
available to you.
X. Thou shalt persist and not give up too easily.

Maybe a better way to

explain
Over the years, your grandmother
probably gave you a lot of great advice
for living
and her points
probably would
apply very well
to using social
media sites, too!

1. Tuck in your shirt.

Make sure your profile
puts the best you forward.
Does it help, or hurt, your image?
Keep your photos and posts

appropriate.
Keep your contact info updated.
Keep your page active.

2. If you dont have something nice to

say, dont say anything at all!

Be judicious in your posts.

Err on the side of caution when

deciding whether to post

something.
Remember: No snarkiness. Ever.

3. No one likes a tattletale,

and dont cry wolf!
Show you care: verify before you share.
Dont repost status updates on

Facebook.
Dont fall for (or share) those free gift
card scams that often circulate.
Dont retweet or forward urban legends.

4. Turn your music down!

Dont contribute to
all the noise.
Avoid filling up other peoples news
streams with silly application stories &
quiz results.
Unfriend & unfollow unapologetically if
someone is cluttering up your news feed.
Block fake Twitter followers who only
post links to porn.

5. Eat your vegetables.

Theyre good for you!
Some tasks arent fun
but are important.
Stay abreast of privacy policy
changes.
(Create and) maintain friend lists on
Facebook to better manage your
privacy settings & news.
Keep your resume on LinkedIn
updated.
Unfollow useless posters on Twitter.

6. Whatever happened to a
good, old-fashioned...?
Plain old face-to-face
communication or the telephone can
sometimes still be best.
Dont treat online communication as
an easy out. Pick up the phone or
actually meet in person when
appropriate.
Some things are better said (and
heard) when tone of voice is present.

7. Think before you speak.

You cant retract what you
put out there.
A verbal gaffe is much more fleeting

than one thats posted online.

Everything said online is archived.
Employers, schools, and the
authorities are using social media
more & more to check out candidates
(& investigate crimes).

8. Dont talk to strangers.

Yep. Just like in the real world.
Dont accept friend requests from

strangers.
Tread carefully with individuals (&
companies) who initiate contact with
you first (rather than you initiating
contact with them).

9. A penny saved is a penny

earned.
Dont fail to leverage an inexpensive but
effective communications tool!
Social media is a great way to connect

with constituents, colleagues,

customers.
You can reach many with a little money
and a lot of time.

10. Finish what you started.

The payoff of social media
wont come overnight;
be patient and stick with it!
Engagement is an ongoing

commitment.
Building a network/following takes time.
Dont leave your profile un-updated or
youll lose the audience you worked so
hard to build.

The

10

Commandments of
Social Media

6. Whatever
1. Tuck in your shirt.
happened to a good,
2. If you dont have
old-fashioned?
something nice to
7. Think before you
say, dont say
speak.
anything.
3. No one likes a tattle- 8. Dont talk to
strangers.
tale; dont cry wolf!
9. A penny saved is a
4. Turn your music
down.
penny earned.
5. Eat your vegetables. 10. Finish what you
...according to Grandma!
started.