10 Tips to Communicate Better on Social Media

O Parole Ostili is an Italian project that seeks to raise awareness of the language we use, focusing especially on the way we express ourselves on social media. After a symposium held in 2017, the Non-Hostile Communication Manifesto was created, in which a decalogue for the correct use of the Internet is proposed and a specific language is suggested for communicating on social networks. The point, as the project shows, is to responsibly choose each word we use. After all, they, the words, carry a weight. And, as the saying goes, words thrown in the wind (or, in this case, written on social media) don’t come back.

O awesome.club supports positive communication in all areas, as it directly influences each of our relationships. Therefore. wants to share with you 10 tips that can help you have better conversations on the Internet. Do you dare to put them into practice?

“I say and write on the net only the things I have the courage to say in person”

Would you be able to tell a person what you write on social media face to face? Sometimes we think that, behind a screen, we are protected by an anonymity that gives us permission to throw stones left and right. However, just as there are cyber crimes (such as cyberbullying, data or identity theft) that can be punished in real life, any insult or attack you make through your social networks can also hurt and affect the person who receives them. Likewise, be careful who doesn’t show their face or hide behind a pseudonym, as their intentions aren’t always good.

“The words I choose demonstrate the person I am: they represent me”

What you share on your social networks, your photos, your memes and even philosophical texts are part of the image you project of yourself to the world. In the same way, each word you choose and the way you express it gives your interlocutors a very accurate idea of ​​who you are as a person, what your way of thinking is like and your attitude towards life in general. So what you write can make you seem immature, rude, violent, or intolerant.

“I take all the time necessary to express my thoughts as best I can”

George R.R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones, said, “Words are like arrows. Once released, there is no way to retrieve them.” That’s why we need to take the time to read and analyze our written messages before pressing the “send” button. This is one of the great advantages of written communication over oral communication, as it allows us to review our words before they reach the recipient. We should avoid writing emails, tweets or Facebook messages when we are angry. It is important to think before writing, reread what is written and verify that we are expressing what we really want. Finally, it is never too much to remember the importance of respecting spelling and grammar. Remember that your mistakes also say a lot about you.

“No one is always right, neither am I. I listen honestly and openly.”

Due to the very functioning of social networks, we usually surround ourselves with information and messages that are a kind of echo of what we think and believe. It’s called a “bubble”. But when this informative harmony is broken, we feel a little bit off the ground. However, it is necessary to learn to listen and read opinions that differ from ours. It’s not good to lock yourself into a single version of things or believe that each of us has the absolute truth in our hands. Respecting other people is allowing them to express themselves and knowing how to respond with due politeness.

“I choose words to understand, make myself understood and get closer to others”

As the previous analogy explains, words must be used to unite, not separate. Knowing how to choose each one we use, with consistent arguments, we can build stronger relationships, help someone or show empathy for others. On the contrary, the insults or attacks we write can become walls or abysses that will isolate us and separate us more from people.

“I know that each of my words can have greater or lesser consequences”

We cannot be impulsive with our words, for they are not gratuitous. What we say and how we say it always has an impact on others. That’s why we must be aware of what we write on our social networks. It is important to be clear that what for us may be a harmless, funny and mocking comment, for someone else can become something offensive and insulting. Everyone has the power to decide what effect they want to have on others with the words they write.

“I share texts and images only after I have read, analyzed and understood them”

As pressing the “share” button on our social networks is very easy and for free, we do it very freely, without taking the time to understand if what we are sharing is true, useful or if it can harm someone. Fake news, malicious messages and even viruses are the direct result of not thinking about or taking responsibility for the things we share on our social media.

“People must respect each other. I do not transform those who defend ideas that I do not condone into an enemy that must be eliminated”

As we live in a world where diversity is normal, we have to learn to live together and respect those who don’t think like us. It is important to understand that the ideas of others are as necessary as our own. Not everyone thinks the same way you do, but that’s not why these people are against you or are your enemies. You can learn from others, always maintaining a line of respect that must be reciprocated.

“I do not accept insults or aggression, even if they are in favor of my thesis”

An insult has no quality in itself, but is an empty word that only aims to harm or belittle the other. It disqualifies the person who says it more than the person it is addressed to. This point also refers to not allowing aggressive language, even if it speaks in favor of what you believe or think. In no case is it right to insult or address other people in a derogatory way.

“When the best choice is to shut up, I shut up”

We are connected and receiving information almost continuously. Messages and also noises come to us constantly when we are stuck in our various social networks. That’s why, just as words communicate, silence also says a lot. Being silent can be a sign of respect and wisdom, even more so these days, when everyone wants their voice to be heard. It is not by talking or writing more that you will be right. If you don’t have anything nice to say, it’s better not to say anything.

Our freedom of expression is not just a right, but must be taken as a privilege that we must responsibly enjoy. What do you think of this manifesto? Think you can follow it and share it with others? Tell us in the comments section.