How Social Media Can Shape Your Life and Career (Part 2)

This is not for everyone. 

The caveat is necessary, as I’m not about to argue or debate anything. I’m not even trying to convince anyone because those who have chosen to be foolish will be foolish, regardless of any intervention. As the saying goes, “The stray dog that will be forever lost will never hear the hunter’s whistle.”

In the first part of this article, I pointed out the need to pause and think before posting on social media. Before you send that tweet, think: if you’re the MD or an ED of an organization, is that how you will tweet? Will you write that post that way? I always encourage people to tweet from their future and not from their current status. 

Being young should not be the same as being foolish. Enjoy the moment, and definitely, you’ll make your fair share of mistakes. But don’t make the mistakes that are avoidable. Wise people learn from the experience of others. You’ll not be young forever. 

Will you be proud of what you posted in five years? Or ten? Does it represent your values? Tweet like your future. This is especially important if you work for a brand that really cares about its image. You’re a brand ambassador. Be careful. 

Some put a caveat on their bio that they are responsible for their posts and the posts don’t represent the opinions of their employer. Rather than put such a caveat, I think discretion should be applied. Don’t tweet your career away; jobs are not easy to come by in Nigeria.

Think before you post on social media. Clout fades, but consequences linger. Post with purpose. Share on X

Don’t tweet for clout or likes. You can’t trend for more than one day. After you trend, you may go down the bend. You want to know the truth? All those who hail your irresponsible posts and tweets won’t be there to help you. They have moved on to the next post or tweet. They’ll even give you a few subs. If you work for yourself, you can ignore. But if you work for a company, you ignore to your peril.

Stop being savage. Relationships you destroy with such savagery may never be salvaged. Money is not the only currency you can spend. Relationship is a currency that is even stronger than money. Don’t fritter it away because you want to appear woke. 

You can disagree with a post without being disagreeable. There’s a world of difference between disagreeing with someone blatantly and disagreeing respectfully. Respect endears. Respect endures. Don’t hide behind an app to tweet or post rubbish. Stop dragging people. It’s very pedestrian. If you know someone who always drags others, you had better avoid them because it will soon be your turn. Don’t join the social media mob. Don’t get involved in other people’s fights.

Don’t be quick to bring out ‘receipts’. Some other people have yours too, especially those you consider friends but are fiends. They won’t drop it themselves, but they have other people they talk to who are willing tools. “A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers”, says the Holy Book in Proverbs 20:19. Have the common sense to know who to keep in your corner and who to avoid like a plague. 

You don't need to be involved in every social media battle. Silence can be powerful too. Share on X

The truth is, if people have a notoriety for being online ‘drag’ queens and kings, their calabash of mischief will never be empty. “People who tell secrets about others cannot be trusted. Those who can be trusted keep quiet,” says Proverbs 11:13. Don’t cast your pearls before swine. Mind who you open up to, lest you end up on Joro’s wall, and become amusement for online trolls.

If you retweet or forward a post, it is assumed that that post represents your thoughts. Otherwise, you need to state it clearly that the tweet does not represent your views. That’s why you have two options: retweet and retweet with a comment. On Facebook, you can either share or share with comment. As a rule, I don’t retweet or forward anything that doesn’t represent my views or values. 

Nudes or raunchy pictures and videos are a no-no, except you’re a Cardi B wannabe. People who post such have serious esteem issues. They have a longing for acceptance, but they only feed the lechery of many. Don’t post things that will cause you regret in years to come.

A little exposure can lead to great damage. Image is everything. Protect it. Be careful with the information you put out. Not every piece of information is necessary. Why do we have to know about your period? Or the last time you had sex? When is information too much information? By the time you realize and want to do damage control, the horse would have bolted from the stall.

Avoid jokes about disability. Don’t joke with rape. Don’t laugh at suicide. Respect the dead. Don’t record their faces and post on social media. Don’t rush to announce the deaths of people who are not family to you. Not all breaking news has to be broken by you. Have you ever thought that their families may not be aware? How will you feel if you find out about the death of your loved one for the first time on someone’s timeline?

Respect other people’s beliefs. I remember having to block a malicious fellow who mocked a picture of my friend’s wife celebrating her PhD while in purdah. Respect other people’s cultures. Your culture is not better than that of anyone else.

Political posts are dicey. It shouldn’t be that way, but in our clime it is what it is. Choose your words carefully, especially when expressing strong opinions. There are too many bitter souls ghosting everywhere. I was almost a victim. Never get into arguments or online altercations over politicians—except you’re being paid to do that. It’s better to ignore and move on most times. Your comments won’t change anything. 

If you have a long-term perspective about life, career, business, or relationship, you would do well to consider the above. Otherwise, ignore.

“If you are already wise, you will become even wiser. And if you are smart, you will learn to understand.” (Proverbs 1:5)