Social Vomiting: I hate cleaning that up!

Yes, I said it.  Social Vomiting is becoming an epidemic across all the social channels and platforms out there.  All age groups are pontificating left and right about either absolute nonsense or fully embracing the TMI (Too Much Information) universe.  The masses are attempting to change the core meaning of "social" to obnoxious. Social Media is supposed to be about Sharing, Publishing, and Networking...not just sharing.

A lot of well intentioned folks like to post images with textual content on them.  Most are what we would consider inspirational, some humorous, and some out and out raunchy.   The inspirational ones are nice from time to time, but it is becoming more and more of a "trend" for social media participators to post and repost these hallmark card style verbal pick-me-ups.  So who created those images?  Who was the first person to post that image?  What if the phrase or slogan is copyrighted and the act of posting it on an image is illegal?  Does it matter?  Do we care one way or the other?

Here is a bigger issue... Social Media platforms were supposed to invigorate our creativity and share these new ideas with our contacts in a participatory fashion.  Now, a lot of social media experiences are built off of what can I find that others have posted so I can repost if I like it.  You know what I am talking about... You see the same image shared, retweeted, and liked a thousand times as it makes its way around your social media pool.  Do we think for ourselves anymore?  Are we capable of creating something new and exciting without creating a carbon copy or close to it?  Hollywood is suffering from the same disease over the last few years.  "Let remake every film that we can with younger actors, more CGI, and not have to worry about producing something worth producing", is what they tell themselves.  The majority of Social Media producers are no different, unfortunately.  Social Media Technology has given us the opportunity to create some awesome things, but it's getting lost in a sea of mediocrity.

So how do  we change this?

Here is my FURIOUS FIVE items on how we can curb the Social Vomiting disease.  If we all do this, social media will become that wondrous place where anything is possible and creativity is limitless and encouraged.

1. Think for yourself: Sharing things you see on your social media channels is great, but your sharing should not out weight your own creative contributions.  If you constantly share others thoughts, you eventually forfeit your own voice.
2. Become inspired: Let your experience with material in the social media universe inspire you to create something transformative.  Don't take the lazy way out...Have your inspiration fuel your online voice.
3. Stay away from posting about food:  This one sounds goofy, but it is true.  The food that you like may not be liked by those you are connected to in your virtual circles.  This is especially true if you are trying to use Social Media for business or prospecting for clients.  You can easily turn prospective clients off by talking about what you are having for lunch all the time.  Now I did have a client that owned a restaurant, so I had several posts related to the dishes at this restaurant and that is OK because I was promoting the establishment, not the food, and I did not talk about how great all of those dishes tasted, smelled, well you get the point.
4. Don't debate on social media channels: This goes for everything from politics to religion, to sports, to stocks...just don't get caught in one of those whirlwinds.  Even if you prove your point and that you were "right", you come off as combative and aggressive, and again, if you are using social media for any kind of business prospecting, this will tarnish your influence and engagement with potential clients.
5. Edit Edit Edit: I can't say this enough; don't post in social media based on emotion.  Base your post on an experience and only use emotion if it complements the experience.  Text has a tendency to be cold and crass, so you need to do your best to come across well.  If you are new to caging your emotions on social media sites, try asking a direct question to your followers and eliminate any sarcasm or biased tones.  If you don't eliminate the emotion from your posts, you pass that energy on to your readers.  Some will agree and some will not, and it leads right into Rule #4 above...like a domino effect.  Be clean and clinical when possible, and if you have questions about a specific post, it probably is NOT appropriate and will hurt your image and credibility. DON'T POST IT!

Surprise me. Inspire me. Edify me. Make me laugh. Be original. Be yourself.