Social media has given us a tremendous ability to communicate with mass audiences in the modern age. Just one post on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or the like, and you can get your message out to hundreds, maybe even thousands of eyeballs in an instant.
Such power doesn’t come without potential consequences, however, and if you’re on social media, you’ll want to stay vigilant about what you post to avoid getting yourself into hot water. With that in mind, here are a few of the kinds of posts you should avoid if you want to steer clear of trouble said Keller Law Offices.
Anything Law-Related
Imagine the following hypothetical. You’ve been involved in a car accident, and, instead of taking the professional advice of experts like Bowling Law Firm, you decide to blast out details about your accident over a social media post. It should go without saying, but that information can be held against you, so it’s always best to refrain from posting about anything law-related over social media.
Family Details
Some family details are OK. Posting a photo with your siblings or friends every once in a while is fine. If you’re posting non-stop about your whereabouts and family plans, though, then you might be inviting a bit of trouble your way. The last thing you need is potential criminals stalking your page for details that would make you easier to target.
Excessive Negativity
Negativity can surface in many forms. You may have a less than favorable opinion about your job or boss? You might be on the outs with a friend and feel like venting? Maybe you just had a bad experience at an establishment and you feel like telling the world? Don’t do it. Excessive negativity is a surefire recipe for social media woes, so avoid it whenever possible.
Offensive Content
While the threshold for what’s offensive may vary from individual to individual, there are a few things — racism, sexism, homophobia, discrimination — that most can agree have no place in your social media feed. Being belligerent is usually just an invitation for trouble, and even if your intent is to joke, remember it’s still possible to offend unintentionally.
Threats
Like our “law-related” example from above, this one should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people think it’s OK to post blatant threats to others on social media. No matter what they may have said to you online, it’s never OK to make threats, so don’t do it under any circumstances.