social media Archives - Relationships Counseling Today

Facebook sharing: Do you know what you’re talking about?

January 23, 2013 by BPSTherapy 3 Comments

The entire world and their mother see what you post on Facebook. With that being said, why would you post something before thinking about it? Posting on Facebook is expected – it’s a social network. But posting things without having a clue as to what you are posting is another animal entirely.

There’s a little thing called netiquette which is the concept of etiquette on the internet. Have you heard of it?

Netiquette covers many things including how to talk to others in the online world, through social media, emails, text messages, etc. Facebook is an online social media networking site – key words being “social” and “networking”.

When you post things, many people will see them. Why not post things that will invite conversation instead of alienating others. Worse yet, if you are posting something offensive and are clueless as to why it’s offensive, then you are in danger of causing a major stir in the social media world – a stir in which you will be helpless because you may have shared something without knowing the true message behind it.

Just today when surfing my Facebook feed, I saw a few things from people I “socialize” with that made me do a double-take. Does the fact that you are on the internet make it ok to post things that are hurtful or negligent of others’ feelings? Ignorance is no excuse.

The disinhibition effect, yet another concept unique to online interactions may explain why you don’t think before you click.

The disinhibition concept involves the idea that we tend to get more comfortable on the internet because we think we are ‘invisible’. What does that mean? We are safe to post whatever we want, wherever we want, without thinking about it for a second.

How do you approach posting something on your Facebook profile? Is your timeline something others don’t mind visiting? Or are you one of those Facebook members that purposely tries to offend others by posting “jokes” that are aimed at insulting, belittling or otherwise hurting others?

Sources: Netiquette

What’s your approach to posting things on Facebook? Do you think before you click? Or, are you in the “I’ll post whatever I want whenever I want!” mindset? How’s that working out for you?

Filed Under: All Topics, Social Media Tagged With: disinhibition effect, facebook, netiquette, online behavior, social media

Presidential elections change Facebook friendships

October 12, 2012 by BPSTherapy Leave a Comment

The 2012 vice presidential candidates debate took place on October 12, 2012. How did your Facebook feed look as it was taking place?

Social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook allow users a variety of options. Some users are blocking or unfriending their connections more and more often as the 2012 presidential elections draw near. It used to be you could just avoid someone if you did not agree with their political views. Or if you had that aunt or uncle that refused to leave politics out of dinner, you could just not invite them.

But with social media such as Facebook, you are bombarded with political messages from your connections, all day long! However, you are not stuck reading all of these messages. A lot of people have decided to block connections, remove friends from their friends list, or simply remove someone from their news feed.

Why do people decide to take measures to clean up their Facebook feed? One study titled “Social Networking Sites and Politics” published by Lee Rainie and Aaron Smith, suggests:

38% of social networking site users have discovered through their friends’ postings that their political beliefs were different than they thought

It seems different social networking users take different approaches to handling their disagreement with their connections’ posting. The study goes on to explain:

10% of SNS users have blocked, unfriended, or hidden someone on the site because that person posted too frequently about political subjects

9% of SNS users have blocked, unfriended, or hidden someone on the site because they posted something about politics or issues that they disagreed with or found offensive

8% of SNS users have blocked, unfriended, or hidden someone on the site because they argued about political issues on the site with the user or someone the user knows

5% of SNS users have blocked, unfriended, or hidden someone on the site because they posted something about politics that the user worried would offend other friends

4% of SNS users have blocked, unfriended, or hidden someone on the site because they disagreed with something the user posted about politics

Sources: Pew Internet, Fox 31 News

Once November rolls around, the elections will have come and gone. But how will your friendships fare? Will you be able to talk to your Facebook friends after the presidential votes are cast? How has the 2012 Presidential elections impact your social networking connections?

Filed Under: All Topics, Social Media Tagged With: facebook, facebook friends, hiding from your facebook feed, social media, social media users, social networking sites, unfriending, vice presidential candidates, vice presidential candidates debate

Social media gives clues to what men and women really want

March 15, 2012 by BPSTherapy 1 Comment

People are always debating the fact that women and men are vastly different in what they want. But is there any truth to this? One article shares that there might be some major differences in what catches a woman’s attention versus what will make a man do a double-take.

Our senses are a major influence in what attracts us, both physically and emotionally, so what is it that makes men and women swoon? Social media is helping shed light on what men and women like. With so many opportunities to share and click the LIKE option, you can get a feel for what they really desire.

One study conducted by Netbase asked questions of men and women, specifically asking the question ‘What do men and women want?’. In their research they posted images and stories related to specific brands and products to see what would catch each individual’s eye.

What did their findings reveal? Women most often want ice-cream and not the expensive ‘boutique-type’ ice-cream, but regular old cheap ice cream to satisfy immediate cravings. Men on the other hand, mostly enjoyed seeing and reading about food, electronics, and women, but mainly cars!

Findings such as these may shed light on why certain relationships work and others do not. Men and women in tune to each other’s needs, specially visual and emotional needs, might have better chances at staying together than those that are less in tune to each other’s needs in these areas. What do you think?

What do you want?

Sources: Huffington Post

Filed Under: All Topics, Relationships, Social Media Tagged With: ice cream, likes and dislikes, men's interests, netbase, social media, women's interests

Facebook Adoption helps families grow

February 16, 2012 by BPSTherapy 1 Comment

Adoption can be a very trying time for a couple facing the challenge of infertility. Desperate to be parents, some couples find they feel disillusioned with the entire process of adopting a child of their own. Facebook however, a powerful social media tool, has been slowly changing the face of the adoption process for these couples seeking to become parents. Instead of going through the traditional roads these would-be parents would face, they are taking to Facebook, creating groups that enable them to network with others in the hopes of finding a child to love.

Adoption is a process that takes its toll on a couple. Whether gay or straight, a couple facing the challenges of wanting to have a child of their own can endure great emotional turmoil as they are turned away repeatedly, either through the foster care system, or through failed fertility attempts. Facebook groups have become a place of refuge, sources of social support, and even avenues by which some couples have found a child to adopt! Couples are opting for either joining these groups via Facebook or creating videos that depict their desire to have a child and what they are looking for.

What do you think of Facebook as a tool for finding a child to adopt? Do you think it’s a safe way to grow your family? Watch the video below to see one couples’ story.

Sources: ABC News, Milford Daily News