Our Social Media Guide on Self Control is a lesson in what you should or shouldn’t tweet, post, or share. So, you had a bad day, you hate your job, and you can’t stand your employer. We’ve all been there, but before you decide to rant to your social network, ask yourself, “Will I regret this later?”

It’s incredible what people are willing to share on their social networks. Tweeting, posting, and sharing have replaced the embarrassing (or the drunk) phone call, voice message, text, or email, so think twice before you hit tweet, post, comment, share or send.

Social Media Guide on Self Control – Questions to Ask

• Are you about to say or do something that you may regret later?
• Are you violating any of your company’s human resource policies?
• Are you going to be questioned regarding your political correctness?
• Are you sending a message that is threatening?
• Are you about to humiliate yourself, family, friends, company, or co-workers?

As a security professional, your career centers on credibility, one wrong tweet, post, comment, or share may ruin what you have worked so hard to achieve. If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you might want to reconsider what you are about to tweet, post, comment, or share.

Social Media Guide on Self Control – Tweets, Post, Shares, and Comments Last Forever

What you tweet, post, comment, or share never actually goes away. Yes, there is a delete button, but you are kidding yourself if you think no one has seen or copied your tweet, post, comment, or share.

When I get upset about something or someone, I don’t do anything for the next 24 hours. I ask myself, will I regret what I am about to say, am I providing too much information, and most importantly, do I even need to respond? My 24-Hour Rule usually leaves me enough time to gather my thoughts so that I can respond appropriately.

Social Media Guide on Self Control – Know the Don’ts

• Don’t take to social media when angry!
• Don’t use social media when drinking!
• Don’t bad mouth family, friends, co-workers, or bosses!
• Don’t ever send threatening messages, even jokingly!
• Don’t marginalize political correctness!
• Don’t use social media to seek revenge!

If you doubt your ability to control your social media tweets, post, comments, or shares, consider hiring a professional social networking manager. LARGO Connect works with Individuals, companies, businesses, and other organizations to establish their personal or business as subject matter experts, influences, and authoritative voices on social media.

Related Reading – How to Communicate Through Crisis

Working closely with our clients, LARGO Connect develops, manages, and promotes branding and marketing strategies across multiple social networks. Why should you consider LARGO Connect to handle your social networking campaigns? Because our team clearly understand the do’s and don’ts when it comes to providing social networking services for security professionals, business professionals, companies, and organizations.

Remember, social networking is a great way to keep in touch, share information, and be entertained. However, it can also be a nightmare that ends careers, so think twice before you tweet, post, comment, or share.

This blog was originally published in 2020 and has been updated to reflect industry trends.

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