Presenting Yourself in Social Media
“Yeah I Know All About Social Media… Except How to Appear Attractive Online.”
We are all interested in presenting ourselves in a positive manner by conveying a certain kind of individual, one of unique characteristics. Self-presentation is managing the image we wish others see and this can happen in person but certainly also in the online world. Social media has opened a possibility of a virtual life – one that can impact real life both positively and negatively. The difference between face-to-face and online self-presentation is that social media allows you to edit and revise the image you send to people, giving the opportunity to tweak and alter in various ways. Don’t like the way your shirt was looking last Friday night at the bar? Not a problem, just delete it. The degree of manipulation in social media is extremely high; one can portray a more idealistic individual, hiding perceived errors. This can be done in many ways but mainly through pictures and carefully constructed texts that appear on social media profiles.
Social media is without a doubt a huge part of growing up these days, in fact, it’s such a big deal that parents are advising their children on how to go about presenting themselves in an online forum. Lisa Quast, Contributor for Forbes, revealed that she trained her three daughters on how to act properly on Facebook (http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2012/04/23/your-social-media-profile-could-make-or-break-your-next-job-opportunity.) Quast brings up some great advice for posting content on Social Media; do not post content when you are in a bad mood. The rule is simple, if you do not want your status, or picture for that matter, on the front page of a newspaper, for everyone to see, then don’t post it. It is important to, instead, vent your emotions in a private setting. It’s all about being conscious of what you post for others to see; ask yourself whether you would want mom to see the pictures from last night or if you want to seem like a miserable loser, who is unhappy with every part of life by posting angry status’ regularly. You may ponder on whether or not acting properly online is really that big of deal, but consider this; is acting properly in real life important? The implications for inappropriate behavior on social media could easily transfer directly to your own life. So before you decide to let loose, letting everyone know about your problems with your long lost friend, think about how your friends, acquaintances or even family members will take the information you publish – it could, in the worst case, eliminate your chances with that girl from high school you always liked.
The accuracy of online profiles is dubious to say the least, but it does leave an opportunity for individuals to test out new identities. It is known that adolescents are very likely to engage in the creation of different identities, and this age is generally speaking a time of identity formation. This is perhaps done to explore and try out new identities and with no in-person interaction it would make more sense to try this out in a less personal setting. Therefore it is safe to conclude that age differences are major factors of how social media is used in self-presentation. But generational gaps do not remove us of a simple and reoccurring feeling that we all get; we want to fit in. Everyone will strive to present themselves in the best possible manner, while culture and age does not determine whether we want to appear attractive, because we all do, how we do this is undoubtedly significantly different depending on those two factors. Being able to accurately identify the norms and accepted behaviors of the age and cultural group one is part of, will lay the foundation for an attractive image, both in real life and on social networks. My advice is to be a critical observer of your online network to figure this out - what is perceived as attractive? What type of behavior seems to be praised with likes and positive comments and which status’ are left alone? An attractive social media profile is all about understanding the cultural ideas and norms that exist within your network. Don’t be scared to do some stalking to find these ideals, we all do it!
But why is this even important? Because your future depends on it! Social media is a great tool for advancing your social life, among other things. If others view your profile and find it attractive, they are much more likely to engage with you in conversations online and perhaps also in person. A perceived positive impression of an individual on the internet could easily be transferred to a similar impression in real life, or at the very least have a positive impact on their opinion of you. If you present yourself in the best possible manner you could easily meet new people and enhance your social status, but there are other opportunities to take advantage of, too.
Ever wondered how often employers gauge their prospective employees? The answer is about 90 % of the time. Lindsay Olson of US News advices that you become familiar with the privacy settings of social media (http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/10/27/employers-will-check-your-social-media-profiles) as this will allow you to hide certain content from specific people. The many options let you carefully choose who is able to see pictures of you and the girls from a silly night out, as an example. There are many ways to do it, but only one way to ensure it is working properly. A quick Google search of yourself will immediately make you aware of what others, specifically future employers, are able to find on you. Try to use the same basic principles of how you think others will perceive your profile, when revising the content found from the search. Don’t hesitate to take down any content that you may have even the slightest feeling will be looked unfavorably upon by prospective employers. It’s like wearing that shirt you really like, but know doesn’t actually fit you all that well – just leave it in the closet! Just like your glorious opinion of Fidel Castro, keep it at home.
Okay Mr. Expert, so what exactly can and should I post on my social media profiles? Well there is no simple answer for that at all, but if you take all the above into consideration along with these principles you will increase your followers;
Be yourself. Katt Williams is your idol and you would like to share one of his jokes? Post it on your profile, go ahead. Just make sure you’re not offending anyone in your audience. You want the best of your personality to shine through and that entails understanding who you are writing to, while still letting your best qualities shine through. It is all about portraying an accurate illustration of you. Keeping it pleasant and enjoyable for everyone in your network of friends will definitely add to your popularity. I always find that a positive mood rubs off on others, even on online social networks.
Be Active. If you wish to appear attractive and popular you have to be an active user. Logging in once a week will not take you to the desired level, at all. If you engage in conversation by posting a thoughtful status, be sure to answer in a timely manner. Your friends will appreciate your quick response as they will, most likely, feel valued. No one enjoys being ignored, even if it’s on Facebook. Staying active on social media by messaging, posting, liking, re-tweeting and similar active interaction will automatically increase viewership of your profile and thereby enhance your chances of getting more likes on your Katt Williams status.
Don’t push yourself into popularity. As Frank Barry so eloquently put it; “Engage, but don’t yell.” (http://www.netwitsthinktank.com/social-media/social-media-best-practices-12-tips-for-making-the-best-of-any-social-site.htm) You definitely do not want to push yourself on anyone, just be yourself. If you are interested in getting to know someone, start with baby steps by liking their status. You don’t want to throw a long message at someone you barely know. Make the transition into their lives as random and casual as possible. It’s completely fine to work towards a new friendship; you just have to make sure you’re not pushing it too hard. If they are interested in you they will eventually respond to your interaction with them – trust me!
Don’t talk about yourself too much. Sheila Beal said it the best; “Don’t spend all your time talking about yourself. That’s not social, it’s boring.” (http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2010/04/4-ways-to-act-like-a-social-media-jerk-how-to-avoid-them.html) What’s up with that kid from the gym who constantly raves about his accomplishments? No one enjoys a self-centered individual who only appears to be concerned about their own lives. Try to seem interested in what others on your network have to say, limit content that speaks solely about yourself. If someone engages with you in a conversation about them, don’t switch the conversation immediately to yourself. A good communicator listens and speaks only when there is something valuable to add.
So, now I will definitely be the most
popular kid on Twitter, right? Nope, but there is a good possibility that you
will appear much more attractive if you practice these guidelines. Take my
advice, but let it run through your own filter first. Josh Galvan titled his
response to social media guidelines with a great quote to explain exactly what
I mean; “Don’t let the social media police own you.” (http://www.tizish.com/when-people-tell-you-how-to-act-in-the-social-media-world-take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt-here-is-why/) Find out how my ideas apply to you
and your own network.
