5 Ways to Win at Social Media

Help your Facebook feed thrive and remain drama-free with these 5 tips.

Never Feed the Trolls
Mixing social media with controversial topics can often lead to heated debates, but the internet is also filled with people who are just looking for a fight. These are the people who will say whatever it takes to get under your skin and make you lose your cool. They stalk your Facebook page, pick apart your statuses and make sweeping assumptions about your character. If you ignore them, they eventually move on to troll someone else, but if you feed them by giving them your attention, they will never go away. Never, ever feed the trolls.

Use the "Like" button generously.

Whether it's a friend's new photos or a simple status update, never hesitate to hit the "Like" button. This will let your friends know that you are paying attention to their lives. Liking someone's social media posts is an easy way to extend a simple kindness each day. The "Like" button can also be a powerful public relations tool and can be a first step in mending a previous disagreements with someone in your social circle.

Unfollow, Don't Unfriend
Social media can give you insight into people's beliefs and opinions that you may never have been privy to otherwise. When you discover that someone you know doesn't share your politics or dislikes your favorite musician, don't take it personally. To "unfriend" should be saved for the most severe of circumstances. A simple "unfollow" allows you to cleanse your social media feed of the views and opinions you find unpleasant without compromising any real-life connections.

Think Before You Post
Your social media presence is yours to control, but that doesn't mean it should be a window into every thought and feeling you have throughout the day. Stop and think about how it will appear to others before you decide to share an update with your network. A rant about you "horrible" ex-boyfriend is never a shining moment. A passive-aggressive insult or slight to a particular category of people makes you look judgmental. And posting selfies ad nauseam makes you look vain. Before you hit the "post" button, take a moment to read it over and ask yourself if it's really something you want the world to see.

Fighting is a Losing Battle
Whether it is discussion about politics, debating a piece of pop culture, or airing personal beef, social media is never the place to engage in an argument. It is practically impossible to ever win in a quarrel because most people are only interested in giving their opinion, not listening to yours. However, if you find yourself in this situation - and we all do now and then - look for a way to bow out of the discussion as quickly as possible. As passionate as you may be about the discussion, just calm down and move on, because it isn't worth losing your cool in front of your following.