Social Networking Etiquette

As mentioned in a previous blog, social networking is becoming more and more useful for college students to network and make career connections. But while using these business networking sites, what is appropriate behavior to use and not to use?

I recently found this article about social networking etiquette:
http://www.cio.com/article/493176/Social_Networking_Etiquette_How_to_Introduce_Yourself_and_Others_Politely

Sometimes when social networking, you may question what the appropriate way to make connections is and this article helps to answer a lot of these difficult questions. The article answers questions such as how can you politely decline friend requests? How can you effectively introduce yourself to someone who doesn’t know you well? How can you connect two of your own connections?

Continuing, the article mentions that one of the most common dilemmas that arise when using social networks is who you should or should not accept as your “friend” or who you should or should not “connect” with. This is quite a dilemma because who you are friends with and connecting with can say a lot about your character. This article gives great tips for dealing with these dilemmas. For example, the article suggests deciding on a “friend” strategy for your social networks, and communicating this strategy with your potential contacts. For example, if one of your colleagues requests you become “friends” on Facebook, and your strategy is to only “connect” with colleagues through LinkedIn, you can politely say to them that you value the working relationship that the two of you have and consider him/her a friend, but that you only connect with colleagues through LinkedIn, and you would gladly connect with them there.

Furthermore, the article also offers etiquette tips when requesting someone to be your friend. The article suggests that you should be specific when sending invitations to someone and explain to your potential “friend” or “connection” how you know them or why you are interested in connecting with them.

This article offers great advice and tips to follow when social networking. Because social networking has developed its own set of rules and etiquette, it is important to stay up to date with the latest trends in order to ensure you do not offend anyone via the web.

I hope this information helps when you are out in the social network world.

Jeanette Schoettle
Senior, Psychology Major and Career Peer Advisor
psyadv@iupui.edu