The impact of our words on our social media followers. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Facebook Needs A 'Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself' Policy When It Comes To The Comments Section

We never know exactly how our social media posts will resonate with our followers. I'm following social media trends, listening to others' reactions, and learning as I go to help make a healthy and loving online environment.

171
c1.staticflickr.com

How many times have you had Facebook or Twitter fights in the last year or so? How many of those arguments have been about politics? I try my best to avoid political issues online because they often blow up in my face. But I don't think we should feel scared to voice our opinions online. They're what we believe. We all have biases. We all have political affiliations. We all have baggage. These are things we should keep in mind as we have online disputes.

Often these fights become about more than just what we believe. They become about the people themselves. How did we come to be so hateful to one another? As a follower of Christ and empathetic human being, I am dedicated to making sure everyone I interact with feels comfortable and heard when I listen, even in an Internet setting. It's definitely harder to get that across online, but we can still show our empathy and care for others in different ways. Instead of practicing care, many times we type out our responses without thinking of how the other person may feel or how they may react to our words. It's especially difficult when we don't have body language or tone to put the words into context - we have to simply rely on the words we post, which can be tricky.

I find that rereading what I wrote before I post can be helpful in interpreting what's really behind my words. There's just something about reading words out loud that turns on a lightbulb in our brains signaling whether the words are spoken (or written, I guess, since they're typed out) from a place of hatred and defensiveness or if they are spoken in love and compassion. Taking the time to really read between the lines of our posts can cease disputes and ensure that we are not saying anything with the intention to hurt others.

When it comes down to it, we are all human beings who are meant to live on this Earth for different purposes, ideas, and opinions. If we all believed the same thing, the world would be such a monotonous and boring place to live! There's nothing wrong with a friendly discussion about politics or tough issues - it's when these discussions are taken to the next level and turned into arguments. Putting ourselves in the readers' shoes can help us understand how other people may receive our words. Even if they are "just facts," there is bias and a certain tone beneath every post whether intentional or unintentional. The best thing to do is to be aware of what you are saying and how what you're saying can be perceived or taken in a way in which you didn't intend.

I know that I have to check myself and reread my words before I hit "send" to make sure I don't post out of anger or hatred.

If I'm not in the right mindset to reply in a kind and caring way, I either wait to post or don't post at all. I always remember the phrase, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." We seem to have forgotten that age-old saying in this age of social media. Words matter, whether they are spoken, written, or typed. Let me say it again - words matter. I strongly encourage each and every one of you to remember the power of words the next time you're thinking of posting something potentially offensive or harmful. Instead of the hatred often seen in our news feeds, let's fill social media with love and care. Taking the time to consider your words and the meaning behind them is a step in the right direction.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading... Show less
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

6102
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading... Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

120226
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading... Show less
Lifestyle

Bucket List To Live In The Now

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

1712

I was sitting at my cubicle, now that I am an adult, looking at the rain pouring down on the windowsill, bumming on life, wishing for the rain to just stop for a full day.

There are moments where we count down the hours until work is over and how many more days till the weekend, and this many weeks until something exciting. Or something like that? Well, I was bumming because my next day off from work is not until Memorial Day weekend, which is not until the end of May. And since this is my first year out of college being a “real person,” I am totally missing the winter, spring and summer breaks. I am sure all of us have felt this way even if just for a hot minute…

Keep Reading... Show less
Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

1221

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments