Every day, 250 million photos are uploaded on Facebook. Every second 8796 photos are shared on Snapchat. Social media has allowed us to share every aspect of our lives with others, in the blink of an eye. But when you share a photo, is it really yours to share? And what happens when someone else doesn't like the picture that you've shared? There is a general etiquette when it comes to sharing material on social media that you should consider carefully before you upload. It is important for your friendships and work relationships that you post with caution.
Make sure you have permission
According to research done by influence.co, 64.3% of people said that it was completely inappropriate for someone to post a picture of them online without their expressed consent. Consider if you are at a wedding - you may find that the couple don't want photos of their big day posted online. Sharing wedding photos on social media should only be done if you have expressed permission from the couple. They may not actually want pictures of their ceremony shared until they have vetted the photos. It is also worth considering that many couples pay a lot of money for a professional events photographer, and would rather these photos were the ones shared with family and friends.
Is it your news?
Whether it is the birth of a baby, an engagement or the first day at a new job, you should always consider whose news it is that you are sharing. If the event hasn't specifically happened to you, then it is always wise to steer clear of social media. 10% of people have actually ended a real life friendship over something that has been posted on social media. Sharing somebody else's private life events may end up causing both of you a lot of unhappiness.
Is a photo flattering?
Social media is a useful tool for connecting not only family and friends, but also work colleagues and business associates. Before you post a photo of someone else online, you should consider whether they would want the photo to be seen by their boss or their Mom. An unflattering photo is an absolute no-no, especially if you consider that many people curate their social media pages, and posts are specially filtered and selected, to create a certain impression of themselves.
Before you consider sharing a photo of someone on social media, you should make sure that you have their permission to do so. If you post something that a friend or colleague isn't happy about, it may end up causing a lot of upset.
