Years ago, face-to-face conversations allowed individuals to connect and determine what kind of person they were interacting with. Their personality, authenticity, compassion, political views, empathy, beliefs, even pastimes. But today, our engagement on social media has come to define us with the swipe of a finger or scroll of a mouse. Let me give you an example.
I recently saw a post from a former co-worker on LinkedIn, which inappropriately mocked President Biden while praising other politicians’ racist and undisciplined remarks from the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert.
While I didn’t spend a great deal of time with this former co-worker, he was usually known to be very quiet, humble, and hard-working, revealing very little about himself or his beliefs, so this post was somewhat surprising to me given his reserved nature.
The LinkedIn post probably took all of ten seconds to comment on and share and probably took me just as long to determine what kind of person he really is – perhaps unknowingly to him.
While the younger generation is often warned about the material they choose to promote on social media platforms, adults would be wise to heed the same warning.
While we might think a “like” here and a “share” there doesn’t mean all that much in the vastness of the internet, our engagement on social media has come to define us – or shall I say – will come to follow us.
Be careful what you’re attaching your name to, and always remember that what you choose to promote on social media can be seen by others – friends and neighbors, teachers, members of the community, co-workers, future recruiters.
Our engagement on social media has come to define us. So take the time to make sure that’s the definition you want other people to learn about you.
Good message