Letter to the Editor
Eight Self-Editing Suggestions for Your Social Media Posts
There was a time if you had an opinion to share in public, you had to write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper.
It took some time. The letter had to be read, evaluated, approved, and then, if you were lucky, printed. The newspaper editor had guidelines for accepting and printing the letter for the public to read. The process took several days, if not longer.
As tedious and imperfect as it was, the process built in restraint and accountability. It required thoughtfulness and consideration.
This day is not that day. So, perhaps we should consider how to self-edit our public comments before we make them. Here are a eight self-editing suggestions for your consideration:
Avoid slandering other people.
Don’t call people names. Even if the accusation is true, calling someone a liar, for example, is slanderous, not to mention, un-Christianly.
Build personal relationships.
Your friends don’t want to see your private conversations or conversations that should be private on your public feed.
Use your public voice for public issues.
The corollary of the previous point is worth noting. If your company is hosting a public festival, post that. If employees are arguing over internal policies, don’t post that.
Consider every post your legacy.
Before posting, imagine your social media feed scrolling on the screen at your funeral.
Encourage publicly. Criticize privately.
Sometimes public criticism forces action, but it rarely produces lasting change. If you want to influence, publicly celebrate and privately negotiate.
Distinguish between typing words and communicating.
Effective communication requires tone, hand gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions. Social media doesn’t do any of that. So beware: Words carry weight. Words alone carry tons of weight.
Share what’s helpful.
It’s true that we are free to say almost anything we want to say, but everything that is permissible is not necessarily profitable.
Persuade others to look to Jesus.
Our platform is a God-given stewardship of trust. Every post will not be a gospel invitation, but Christians have an amazing opportunity to leverage social media to exalt the wonder of the gospel and the glory of God.
In addition to these self-editing helps, I would also prefer not to see any pictures of your bodily injuries, x-rays of your colon, or drainage tubes running from your hospital bed.
If this is helpful, please share with a friend or foe.
THRIVING PASTORS. STRONGER CHURCHES. TRANSFORMED COMMUNITIES.
These three priorities describe the calling of my life, and by God’s grace, I’m able to pursue this calling as the Strengthening Healthy Churches Team Leader with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. We serve churches by multiplying gospel leaders who advance God’s kingdom.
I’m also the Executive Director of Everyone’s Wilson and The Everyone’s Welcome Network—a platform for Gospel transformation in local communities. Our mission is to unite the Church to engage the community, so everyone thrives.
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