Are you okay with your boss following you on social media?

social media apps

Aha.

A tricky question to tackle on 4.4.

While it’s not uncommon for bosses and employees to become “friends,” or rather, have a friendly relationship outside of working hours, being on social media can be a little…

Ehem.

Up to this point, some of you may be secretly laughing inside since it seems like a no-brainer.

“Aiyo, just don’t post anything you won’t say in front of your boss lah.”

But hey, isn’t that an invasion of privacy? It’s social media after all, and not connected to work. Isn’t it stressful to have to “censor” yourself because your boss is part of your friend/follower list?

Let’s delve deeper into this.

What are the downsides?

Numerous.

Since bosses will be able to see what you “like” and your comments on posts, they may form an opinion of you that may not be part of your “professional reputation.”

And if you’re friends with your colleagues, that’s extra stuff to worry about. But but, we won’t get there for this post. Simply put, life is stressful enough to have to worry about what you post online.

Play around with privacy settings

Not all social media platforms allow you to play around with privacy settings. For example, TikTok and Instagram probably can’t (unless you go private).

But for Facebook, you can limit who sees your posts. I mean, if you have no choice but to accept that friend request from your boss, you’ve got to take some safety measures, isn’t it?

Though it would be a pain in the a** to have to constantly keep this at the back of your mind—being careful with what you share and whom you share it with.

What to do when things don’t go your way

Called in sick and took a day off on Monday but posted that photo of you drunk on Sunday night?

A cliche scenario, but it happens.

If you find that things don’t go away no matter how careful you’ve been on social media, take this chance to disconnect.

And when asked or questioned, just explain that you think it’s better to draw the line between personal and professional.

Is it really a no-no to connect with your boss?

Well, not really.

This is especially for people who don’t have much of a social life. Oops, I’m sorry to be blunt but it’s true.

Or for folks who tend to be on social media to “stalk” or get updates on events, friends, and loved ones.

In such cases, then it’s okay to connect. In fact, you might be on the “winning end” because you will be stalking your boss’ social life instead. Ha!

Jokes aside, I have a few friends who are on social media to showcase their work—designs, and drawings—so there are no danger zones there yeah.

As we close, just know that accepting a request without putting much thought into it may be disadvantageous to you. Ultimately, a boss is a boss and professionalism should come first in the majority of your interactions. Why sabo yourself?

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Why social media fixation is a problem for teens

social media icons

The allure of a “constant connection” to friends can be dangerously addicting, and it’s no secret that teens are especially vulnerable to social media’s lure.

The constant need for validation and attention can result in several problems for your teen, including anxiety, cyberbullying, and decreased academic performance.

If you’re concerned about your teen’s social media fixation, there are steps you can take to help them break their addiction. In this post, we will outline some of the dangers of social media addiction and suggest ways you can help your teen overcome it.

The dangers of social media fixation

You may have noticed that your teen is glued to their phone or laptop, scrolling through social media feeds for hours on end. It’s not just a phase—it’s a real problem.

Here’s why social media fixation is a problem for your teen:

  • It’s addictive. Teens are hardwired to seek out social validation, and social media provides the perfect platform for that. 
  • It’s distracting. Your teen is missing out on essential aspects of their development because they’re so focused on their online persona.
  • It’s harmful to relationships. Your teen may be forming digital relationships instead of actual ones, and that can be damaging in the long run.
  • It’s a waste of time. Your teen could be using that time to learn new things, explore their interests, or develop healthy habits, but instead, they’re wasting it online.
Why teens are susceptible to social media fixation
woman having her picture taken

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Teens are susceptible to social media fixation because their brains are still developing.

The parts of the brain that deal with judgment and impulse control are not fully formed, which means they’re more likely to act on instinct and not think things through.

Add to that the fact that social media is all about instant gratification, and it’s easy to see why teens can get hooked. They’re constantly being bombarded with images and messages that make them feel good, and it’s hard to resist the temptation to keep scrolling.

Warning signs that your teen may be addicted to social media

If your teen is constantly checking their phone or laptop, even when they’re in class or doing homework, then there’s a good chance they’re addicted.

And if they’re withdrawing from friends and family in favor of their online life, then that’s another sign that there’s a problem. It’s crucial to address this issue head-on.

But what can you do to help your teen break free from social media?

Here are a few tips as we come to a close: talk to your teen about the dangers of social media, set reasonable rules, and monitor your teen’s use of social media. You can also help your teen find other activities to replace their social media addiction. This could include things like playing sports or learning how to master a musical instrument.

You’re likely familiar with the dangers of social media fixation—it can lead to teen depression and a skewed view of the world. But try not to be too judgmental in your parenting journey. Your teenager is going through a lot of growing-up changes right now, and they need your support more than ever. Be there for them, and remind them that you love them no matter what.

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Why you should think twice before responding to hate comments online

man typing on his laptop

You’re scrolling through your Facebook feed when you see a post from a friend and the comments are already full of hate.

You decide to read them, and suddenly you’re in the thick of things. Someone has said something about your friend that’s downright rude, and you feel the need to reply.

Before you do, stop and think for a moment. Is responding to this hateful comment going to make things better? More likely than not, it won’t. It could make things worse by inciting more anger and hatred. You never know who might see your response, and it could end up causing more harm than good.

There’s no need to put yourself through that kind of stress when there are better ways to deal with hate comments. In this post, we will explore some of those ways and talk about why you should stop responding to hate comments online.

Be the bigger person

When somebody hurls an insult your way (or a loved one’s), it’s natural to want to fire back. But before you do, take a step back and think about the consequences.

Are you going to stoop down to their level and engage in a pointless back-and-forth? Are you going to make the situation worse? Are you going to give them the satisfaction of knowing that they got under your skin? There’s no need to waste your time and energy on somebody who’s not worth it. Just ignore them and move on.

The psychology of hate comments

Here’s the thing: responding to hate comments only fuels the fire. It can be hard to walk away from an online argument, but trust us—it’s worth it. Not only will you be sparing yourself from hours of stress, but you will also be sending a message that hate doesn’t win.

Studies have shown that ignoring hate comments works better than replying to them. When someone doesn’t get a reaction, they tend to give up and move on. So next time you’re faced with some negativity, just take a deep breath and walk away.

Responding to them only makes it worse
woman with a MacBook on a sofa

Image Credits: unsplash.com

By responding to negativity, you’re saying, “Yes, this is something worth getting worked up about.” And that’s not what you want. You want to ignore the hate message, or better yet, delete it. That way, you’re not giving it any power.

If you decide to respond to a hate comment, what should you say?

If you do decide to respond to a hate comment, you should never attack the person. That will only escalate the situation and could end up with you getting into a heated argument.

Instead, try to stay calm and constructive. Address the issue that the person has brought up and offer a solution. Most importantly, try to stay positive. No one wants to read a long rant about how terrible someone is. Keep your response short and sweet, and end on a graceful note.

No one deserves to be attacked online, especially not for something as innocent as posting a photo or opinion. At the same time, just because someone leaves a hateful comment doesn’t mean you have to respond in kind. Think about the consequences of your response before you post. Will it lead to an online argument that will just get messy? If the answer is yes, then it’s best to walk away. It can be hard not to react when you’re faced with hate but remember that responding won’t change anything, and it might just make matters worse.

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6 Perks Of Using Instagram For Business

As social media usage continues to increase across all demographics, social media marketing has become a viable strategy for businesses. Social media marketing gives companies a way to engage with existing consumers and reach new ones while allowing the businesses to promote their desired tone, culture, and mission. One of the well-known platforms that Singaporeans frequent is Instagram (IG).

With over a billion users worldwide, it would be foolish to skip on the advantages of using Instagram for your business!

#1: CONNECT TO CLIENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE CHANNELS

Using Instagram allows you to connect to multiple channels to increase your engagement. You can put the Instagram button to your website to connect your clients to your profile.

As they scroll through your gallery of IG photos, clients can click through your account and start following you. They are likely to re-connect with you later.

#2: PROMOTE AUDIO-VISUAL CONTENT

As visual content is more attractive than chunky text, Instagram provides a huge opportunity for marketers to showcase their products or services. Instead of sending your brochure through email, you can use photos and videos to create a more compelling message.

Photos give your business a chance to highlight your products, while videos show your services in action. Post your company background and behind-the-scenes videos to help create your brand’s image.

#3: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HIGH ENGAGEMENT

When you post something on Instagram, many of your followers are likely to see it.

Image credits: unsplash.com

In 2016, IG users liked over 4.2 billion posts per day. Posts with at least one hashtag got an average of 12.6% more engagement than posts without hashtags. Imagine the difference in these numbers due to the recent global lockdowns.

#4: RE-USE MARKETING MATERIALS

Instead of shelling out cash to hold another photoshoot, you can re-use your existing marketing materials and post them on IG. Re-use these photos across your channels and select the best images for your ads.

As we are all crunched for money and time, it is best to work smart.

#5: RESEARCH WHAT YOUR CLIENTS LIKE

IG allows you to research and learn what your clients like. Use your content insights to understand the preferences of your clients. This is an important tool that help you create an accurate profile of your typical client.

This way, you will be able to improve your marketing strategy and grow the number of verified leads in time.

#6: LOOK FOR BRAND AMBASSADORS

The word of mouth is a powerful marketing strategy. It helps you to convince potential clients as satisfied clients speak on your behalf.

Image credits: unsplash.com

Keep generating good feedback and building stronger relationships with your loyal clients by selecting some of them as your IG brand ambassadors.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

 

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