Pause before You Post

In the face-paced virtual world people may not pause long enough to respond to situations they encounter in a logical manner. These immediate and sometimes thoughtless reactions can lead to regret and distress. Steinberg (2008) in State of Play reminds us that ‘young people are still mastering tasks such as impulse control, emotional regulation and the assessment of consequences and risks’ so it is often very challenging for them to form a strong identity and differentiate themselves from their peers. Researchers Marino, Gini, Vieno, & Spada also contributing to State of Play (2018) report ‘a positive correlation with psychological distress, including anxiety and depression as well as a small negative correlation between social media use and psychological well-being.’

Professor Paul Booth from DePaul University, Chicago affirms that it is important ‘to navigate our online relationships with the same care we navigate our real-life relationships – perhaps to an even greater level, as social media lacks a personal connection’ (2017). He provides a set of guidelines that are worth considering including:

• Don’t post when you are feeling emotional… ‘Instead of quickly responding to a friends’ comment you take issue with, consciously take a break…to collect your thoughts before posting a response’.
• Use private messaging for resolving conflicts… ‘Turn to a private – or even a phone call or in-person conversation before taking your grievance public’ and discuss issues with those involved.
• ‘If you think negative feedback and comments will make you feel upset or angry, hold off posting’ and think of an alternative way to handle the situation.

Discussing the difference between reacting and responding can be a useful to tackle this subject with young people.