New Year’s resolutions for proper social etiquette, texting

If you don’t know what “LOL,” “BRB,” “OMG” or “TTYL” means, then you might be at a disadvantage these days when trying to communicate.

And those are just the cute little abbreviations everyone uses now when texting and often when posting on social media too.

Then there are the uses for emojis, the rules of how long to wait to get back to someone when texting for business or personal – and that’s just the beginning.

As if you might not have made enough new year’s resolutions, here is one for you, learning proper social media etiquette. That means using social media and receiving social media messages appropriately.

Below, I have put together a list of some of the most important social media/ texting rules. If you follow these suggestions you are at least well on your way to understanding social media speak – well, sort of:

• When texting, it is best to use one emoji per text if at all – but hey, everyone must smile, right? Oh yeah, what is an emoji? Those crazy faces that appear smiling, crying, laughing, winking – if you can throw a few of those into your text message every now and then it gets easier since these little faces are shorthand for a longer message – in other words, emojis say a lot with little effort.

• Some texters and social media junkies use the word “K” instead of forming sentences. Also, there is the “KK” – obviously if you are business texting spell it out. I have found I go back and correct my spelling and grammar in text messages business and personal. Hey, I am a writer and I can’t help it. At the very least, let the person you are communicating know you are literate even if you don’t clean up the entire text sentence.

• If you respond with a one syllable message such as “Okay” or “LOL,” it is basically saying you aren’t in the mood to talk.

• When a person sends you a text, at least let them know you received it by saying “Thanks” or “Got it” – no one should ever be too busy to be polite.

• Remember, when you are not talking to someone face to face there can be misunderstandings. That is the way it is these days. Go back and read your text before you send it or before you post on one of the social media outlets like Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Make sure you want what you are saying out there for the remainder of your life.

• Apparently, it is now fine to say “Happy Birthday,” “Happy New Year’s” and “Merry Christmas” to each other over text. I don’t make the rules, but I think this is an awful way to communicate good wishes – but it is a new decade. My rule of thumb is if you are a good friend, I am still going to pick up the phone – and you should too.

• Don’t randomly Face-Time people. If you want to FaceTime, text or call first and ask if it is okay FaceTime.

• If someone you know makes a comment on a photo or video you posted on social media – respond and say, “Thanks.”

• Don’t “Like” your own posts – that is just weird.

• Don’t take hours to respond unless you have good reason. And no, being a jerk and self-important is not a good reason.

• When a person asks you several questions on text, don’t just answer one of the questions – answer all the questions like you would in real life.

• Take it easy on the group chat thing – not everyone wants to hear what others have to say about a situation. I personally never group chat unless forced – and always only in a business situation.

• Do not break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend over text. Actually, don’t deliver any bad news over text – it shows a real lack of class.

• In a relationship, if you have not heard from the person in 48 hours, that means – according to the rules of social media/texting – things are not going to progress.

• Overall, be patient when it comes to texting. In a new relationship, sometimes people are busy and sometimes they are hiding behind this new form of communication. Overall, you can still tell if a person has manners and class by the way he or she responds to a text and how quick. It is rude just like in the “old days” when you called someone, and it took them forever to return the call versus being eager to talk to you. My rule is respond promptly. Phone service pretty much works around the world nowadays and fast, so if I am not responding it means I don’t care that much. That is likely what the person who sent you a message is thinking when it takes you forever.

• No ghosting. If you do not like a person and don’t want to talk to them, just tell them instead of disappearing. That is rude and I am quite sure everyone’s parents taught them better than that.

• On social media, remember your sense of humor might not be understood by all your followers, friends, etc. Either way, make sure your humor is clean and good natured.

• Don’t get into fights on social media for all the world to see. This is a sign of having no life, no class and an embarrassment for those having to read the exchanges.

And just in case you didn’t know; “LOL” means “Laugh out Loud,” “BRB” means “Be Right Back,” “OMG” means “Oh My God,” and “TTYL” means “Talk To You Later!” means Talk to you Later!”