It matters what you post on social media

It doesn’t take much for a feud to spark on Twitter these days. It’s becoming more and more common to see someone post a long rant on Facebook, outing his or her opinion on a national or local topic. With the features of sharing on Facebook and retweeting on Twitter, it’s as easy as ever to spread an opinion all over the Internet.

We, as students of Oklahoma Christian University, should utilize better social media etiquette.

Here are a few rules:

1. Always have your facts straight.

If you want to rant about a new school policy or a new state law on Facebook, do your research and gather the correct information. Hundreds of people can potentially view every status you post, meaning if you post something that is not true, people might believe the lie you posted.

2. Be prepared for counter-attacks.

If you are going to post something that argues against some sort of company, school or person, expect for some type of rebuttal to come your way. The great thing about being human is that we are not robots – we all think and see things differently. You can’t be surprised when someone comments on your status sharing their opinion. An intelligent social media user recognizes that not every friend on Facebook and not every follower on Twitter will agree with what you have to say.

3. Don’t attack the integrity of others.

Never use hateful, rude words. Never attack personally. If you avoid obscene attacks, you will often be seen as more credible and respectable.

The problem with posting complaints on social media is that they stay there forever. When a future employer searches all of your accounts, and they find the post where you attacked the university’s administration, your company’s policies or your professor’s class procedures — they will be less likely to hire you. No one wants an incompetent, insubordinate employee on his or her team.

At a small university such as Oklahoma Christian, word of what happens on social media spreads fast. I work in the Welcome Center and with the Admissions Office, and I can promise all of you that the staff, faculty and administration see what we post and what’s trending on all of our social media accounts. They’re not watching to try and control what we do, the administration is watching because they care.

The administration saw how we as the student body reacted to the news of the proposed 10 a.m. chapel change, and they responded positively. Instead of criticizing every move that this school makes, look at their decisions through the eyes of business-owners, because that’s what Oklahoma Christian University is – a business. And to keep a business up and running, you have to make tough calls.

If you want to use your social media for anything, use it to thank the administration of this school. They are doing everything they can to keep this wonderful school as available as possible by keeping tuition costs low. They are doing everything they can to keep the students happy.

Thank a staff or faculty member this week, because Oklahoma Christian really is home.

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