Friends - Followers - Connections

I've been thinking about my social contract a lot lately. I've always had certain unwritten rules that I've stuck to with my social media sites. Recently though, I'm finding those rules bending a bit ...

Facebook Friends

My old rule: If we're not friends in real life, then I'm not accepting your friend request.

Exceptions: If we've met and you wrote me a little note in the friend request explaining why we should link up on Facebook, I usually accepted. Or, if you were especially persistent. However, I probably broke up with you later that week.

My new rule: See my old rule, plus ... if we share a common interest and are likely to meet in the real world through that common interest or are friends in another social media space.

I have my Facebook account pretty locked down, so I am comfortable with my new rule. Plus, I am very comfortable breaking up with Facebook friends as needed.



Twitter Followers

My old rule: I block any porn, SEO experts, people trying to save me and otherwise creepy individuals right away. I will only follow people on Twitter that have a bio. That said, if their bio doesn't appeal to me on some level, I won't follow.

Exceptions: If I already know you and love you, consider yourself in.

My new rule: See my old rule, plus ... I've been branching out. I am following more people with different interests these days and getting more out of my tweet stream as a result. I am also unfollowing people that don't tweet. This includes those of you that I already know and love.



LinkedIn Connections

My old rule: If you were a colleague, classmate or already a friend, I would connect. I did not accept connections from people that I didn't already know.

Exceptions: Sometimes a friend of a friend would sneak in there or a new agent that I had not yet met (but would eventually).

My new rule: See my old rule, plus ... Now I am connecting with other real estate people across the country that I have connected with on Twitter or through the Young Professionals Network. I have also connected with some of my real estate training idols (Doug Devitre, Amy Chorew, etc.) on LinkedIn.

My rules should not be your rules, but I hope that they can at least guide you with setting up your own social contracts. Consider what you will be sharing on these sites before making a friend, follower or connection with someone you don't know.

Happy Saturday :) Yey SNOW!!!