Do's and Don'ts of Communication through Social Media: formula sheet

Key formulas

Meaning of social media

Social media = internet-based platforms + user-created content + two-way interaction

Use this to reject options that describe one-way media like print or radio.

Platform to purpose match

LinkedIn → professional networking; YouTube → video; X → short quick updates; Instagram → photos and short videos; Facebook → community and pages; WhatsApp → instant messaging

These are typical uses, not strict rules. Platforms overlap in features.

Main advantages

Speed + low cost + wide reach + feedback + brand building

Remember as the five core benefits.

Main disadvantages

Misuse + privacy loss + fake news + public criticism + time waste + security risk

A post spreads fast and is hard to withdraw.

Five core do's

Professionalism + Verified facts + Respect + Privacy + Prompt response

Remember them as one checklist. Most MCQs test one of these five.

Think before you post test

Is it true? Is it respectful? Is it private? Is it needed? Is it safe for my employer's name?

Use it to judge any post in a situation-based question.

Sharing rule

Verify first, then share

Forwarding unchecked content is not good practice, even if it looks useful.

Response rule

Reply promptly, politely and accurately

Speed alone is not enough. A fast but rude or wrong reply is still poor practice.

Don't 1: Confidentiality

Do not share confidential or sensitive information

Includes client details, internal data, unpublished results and passwords.

Don't 2: Rumours

Do not spread unverified information or rumours

Verify facts before posting or forwarding.

Don't 3: Language

Do not use offensive, abusive or insulting language

Applies even in replies, comments and private groups that can be shared.

Don't 4: Impulse

Do not post impulsively or in anger

Think first. A deleted post may already have been copied.

Core idea

Think before you post: Is it true? Is it allowed? Is it respectful?

A simple test that covers most don'ts.

Core rule: Think before you post

Is it true, necessary, respectful, lawful and non-confidential? If not, do not post

A simple test you can apply to almost any scenario MCQ.

Main risks of social media misuse

Reputational + Legal + Security + Productivity

Use this list to classify the risk in a question.

Official voice rule

Only authorised spokespersons speak for the organisation

Other employees should state that views are personal and should not share company information.

Netiquette basics

Be polite + be accurate + respect privacy + give credit

Avoid ALL CAPS, rumours, abusive language and unverified forwards.

Quick revision

• Social media allows fast, wide-reaching, two-way communication.
• It is often informal, but business use still needs professionalism.
• Think before you post, because posts can spread fast and be hard to remove.
• Check facts before sharing any information.
• Use polite and respectful language, even when you disagree.
• Protect your privacy and use the settings available on each platform.
• Do not share confidential business or client information.
• Do not spread rumours, fake news or offensive content.
• Do not reply in anger or in haste.
• Keep personal views separate from your employer's official voice.
• Organisations frame social media policies to guide employees.
• Responsible use protects both individual and organisational reputation.

Common mistakes

• Treating social media as one-way communication like a notice board. Fix: Remember the defining feature is two-way interaction and instant feedback.
• Assigning LinkedIn to casual photo sharing or Instagram to recruitment. Fix: Link each platform to one clue: LinkedIn professional, Instagram visuals, YouTube video.
• Treating quick sharing as a good practice because it shows you are active. Fix: Prompt applies to replying to queries. Before sharing content, always verify first.
• Thinking privacy settings make confidential work information safe to post. Fix: Never post confidential organisational data anywhere. Settings reduce risk but do not remove it.
• Thinking a personal account is free of professional rules Fix: Remember that posts can be shared, traced to your employer and seen by clients. Professional care applies to personal accounts too.
• Believing deleting a post removes the risk Fix: Others may already have seen, copied or screenshotted it. The correct answer is to think before posting.
• Thinking a personal account is outside the organisation's concern Fix: Remember that posts about the employer, colleagues or clients can harm the organisation even from a personal account.
• Believing deleting a post removes the risk Fix: Screenshots and shares may already exist. The safe step is to think before posting.

Exam tips

• Learn one clue word for each platform. Most platform MCQs can be solved from the clue alone.
• Know both advantages and disadvantages as short lists. Questions often ask for the one that does not belong.
• Read NOT and EXCEPT carefully, since they flip the answer.
• Link this topic to the do's and don'ts topics, as scenario questions may mix them.
• There is no negative marking, so attempt every question.
• Questions are mostly one-line or short situations. Link the situation to one of the five core do's.
• Watch for privacy traps. Any option that reveals personal or confidential data is almost always wrong.
• If an option is both polite and prompt, it usually beats an option that is only one of the two.