LXIX. The Individual's Use of Social Media....

… apparently never had an appointment made with Miss Manners.

The boons of social media are almost endless. This I am sure of.

However, there are times when individual members of the Facebook community, for example, (not celebrity or other public pages), part-take in certain no-no’s that include being obnoxious, seeking attention, and successfully being sought after.

We have all fallen prey to the above predicament, however, not all of us have become victims.

There is a fine line between being real and doing something for yourself, and being straight up revolting.

I know this post is risqué so I’ll use myself as the first example.

I have a Facebook.

This past year I was more anxious than the norm. I had applied to programs for next year and with a week left until the end of my college career and less than month away from graduation, I finally heard of an acceptance.

After hearing all the Whartonites who had bagged high-paying jobs and planned on moving to my home, New York City, (yes, I am possessive, and if you think only one borough is New York City, then you clearly need to brush up on your geography), I was elated at being accepted to my first choice.

Turns out I ended up declining the offer.

I’m on my way to fulfilling that childhood dream of becoming a polymath.

I apologize, but I have to use an emoticon here: :)

Regardless, after I found out of my acceptance, in Mark’s Cafe, Van Pelt Library, and called my mom, who relayed the message to my dad, I took the twenty minutes left before class to contemplate as to whether or not I should change my Facebook educational status.

I really did not want any praise. I just did not want the pressure of others’ expectations. I also didn’t want others to think I expected reactions to this new notification.

Forget that ish, yo. Here’s to my future. Let people think what they want.

And so I updated my school information. It was incredibly cathartic.

Seconds later came the likes and the comments, which is actually quite odd for me. I am not the social butterfly.

However, those people who did comment and liked my profile update, are people who I respect and who’s happiness for me, though not necessarily desired, was much appreciated - props.

1. There are times, however, when I feel that cute ambiguities along the lines of: “[Insert city] bound!” is unnecessary when we all know you’re going to Harvard or Stanford Med. You’re not being humble by doing this. Be direct and say, “Oxford bound!”- you deserve that, or at least some of you do.

Take another status along the lines of “Oh hey there D.C.!” that can be translated into, “I’m in my over-priced crib in the middle of the city and starting my incredibly competitive internship at the White House, ya hurd? I mean, I know you hurd cause I made you hurd, ya hurd?”

2. The entire student body knew you were trying out for a unnecessarily exclusive Acapella group or pledging some almost-illegal fraternity. We know that your fate will be decided within this upcoming week and then you suddenly drop a lone character, word, or emoticon along the lines of:  “ - "   //  "wow” //  “:)”

You then have one-million and one likes because, like I said, the entire student body knows of your business and therefore qualify as your FB friend.

You also have the usual annoying questions that are repeated no less than 5 times: “omg Did you make it? Did you get in?”

3. Strategically making your profile picture of you and someone who you want to be friends with.

Say you’re in, I don’t know, a performing arts team. You want to become closer to a rookie and conceal your inner moody and bossy personality that others have witnessed, because, well, you want to come off as the mentor, the Oprah.

As a result, you take a picture with the rookies’ boyfriend/girlfriend, who you hardly know, make it your profile picture, and BAM- you’re in with the freshmen.

Be proud homie!

4. I’m all for technical jargon and “laugh out loud” never fails to save me when I have nothing else to say. However, anyone who respects the English language should not part-take in the recently revived use of cliches: “YOLO” // “FOMO”.

Stop talking in cliches that are concealed in the form of acronyms, please and thank you.

5. If you’re my friend, please use discretion and do not tag me in a picture where I look as if I weigh 50 more pounds than I actually do.

Keeping it real is by saying, yes, I am de-tagging/removing the picture from my profile… because, who wants to advertise themselves as an ungraceful ugly duckling/deer caught in the flash of a forever-camera-carrying person?

6. You should always advertise your blog posts, recent excursions, pictures of experiences that have been meaningful to you. Documentation in this era, though hardly in the form of letters and diaries, is warranted and necessary. We’re all human.

However, if a picture you are particularly proud of did not garner quite the usual 100 likes for whatever reason, have some integrity and leave it up there. You took the time to decide to use your social media platform as a way to share something you thought worthy, so who cares if no one responds this time around? They’re missing out.

7. When someone analyzes why you or someone else had liked or commented on a link to a Facebook friend who you may/may not talk to.

The whole point of social media is to share information and ideally, amalgamate ideas and create a discussion.

I love the idea of commenting on an interesting article that an acquaintance from high school, who I haven’t spoken to in almost five years, posted. I love being able to see new perspectives.

In the same vein…

8. If tragedy or some other event  that is being covered by news outlets, occurs, please take the time to consider how your point of view on the situation will affect others.

If you are unlike me and have 1,500 Facebook friends, do not make false claims.

People will see this on their newsfeed and probably like your status because you’re you.

I read it and I gag because we’re from a similar background, let’s say, culturally. How can you be so brazen as to generalize a completely false claim for an entire people? You’re only succeeding in spreading the ignorance.

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This is getting lengthy and there will inevitably be disagreements concerning my enumerated list.

I feel like the more social media is becoming dominant, and the more I grow to appreciate it, the more I need to gather what I don’t like about it, in an orderly manner, and remember to not be so quick to be let down and boycott.

Yay for being organized and staying positive -