., click here to enter for a chance to win one of our many gift cards we are giving away.

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

How Students Can Respond to Negative Social Media Posts

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

Become a member or login to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
March 27, 2018

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

How Students Can Respond to Negative Social Media Posts

Earn points towards a Starbucks gift card!*
Start watching/reading this page/resource to activate a form...

You will be able to take notes and tell us what you learned to earn points.

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

How Students Can Respond to Negative Social Media Posts Light, Bright & Polite by SmartSocial.com

Learn How Students Can Respond to Negative Social Media Posts[/caption]Love it or hate it, social media is a powerful tool that has changed much of how the world works today. As we discussed in the last chapter, the choices you make online can have a tremendous impact on your future, either for good or for bad. The good news is that you’re in the driver’s seat when deciding what to post and how to frame it in a positive light.

The better news is I can give you the inside information you need in order to use social media to boost—not damage—your professional reputation while still being your authentic self online. How you respond to negative posts online is much more important than what the negative post says about you.

This blog post is an excerpt from Light, Bright & Polite

The Light, Bright & Polite books teach students how to be safe and smart on social media. With this book your family will be able to develop a social media plan to be safe and smart online. This book also teaches teens how to shine online to someday have a positive footprint that will impress colleges and future employers.[/su_note]

Here are some key takeaways from this chapter:

  • Search for yourself online regularly, so you’ll always know what others are going to find
  • Make sure everything you post is full of gratitude and positivity. Positive posts make a good “digital first impression” on people who could eventually impact your career
  • You can’t control others’ actions, but you can always control how you react to anger and negativity. Being polite under difficult circumstances always reflects well on you, online or off
  • Being gracious and authentic online is usually a good indicator of how you handle situations in person. It reflects well on your character and can lead to great career and personal opportunities

Negative social media posts in the news

At least 10 students accepted to Harvard have had their offers rescinded after administrators discovered offensive posts in a private, online Facebook messaging group. Forbes
Any individual student can stir up trouble with a single comment, picture or online conversation, and that extends well beyond just an elite athlete trying to get a scholarship. Teens complaining about playing time, bickering with a teammate or trash-talking an opponent have forced coaches to be more vigilant about their players' online activity. USA Today's Democrat & Chronicle

Letting things go on social media

On social media, sometimes you have to make a conscious effort to ignore people who seem to be trying to get under your skin, whether they hurl direct criticisms at you or constantly post things that offend you. You might feel an obligation to stand up for your beliefs and for fair treatment, but social media is rarely the right context. If you feel the need to rant, call or text a friend. If you know the person who is making offensive comments and can reach out to them privately, it might be worth a try, but very little good will come from engaging in a social media war.

Here’s why: This may be a person (or people) with their own agenda or reason for lashing out, and it may be completely beyond your control. When other people are negative, rude, dramatic, combative, etc. on social media, more often than not it reflects badly on them. Responding to them in like manner can also reflect badly on you—even if you’re in the right. Remember how many people might be watching your mini-drama play out, and most will have no idea what it’s about, who launched the first missile, or even care who has the better argument. All they’ll see is that you’re acting like someone who can’t seem to rise above an argument that’s probably not worth it and is rarely constructive. If you let yourself get pulled into an argument, it gets harder and harder to get out of it. Others will respect you more for walking away from an online argument. Colleges and employers—or anybody whose respect you want to earn—want students and employees who are drama free. Drama that another person tries to start will usually go away on its own if you let it.

Why should students care?

  • Being gracious and authentic online is usually a good indicator of how you handle situations in person
  • Colleges and employers may be watching your social media to see how you react to negative situations
  • The choices you make online can have a tremendous impact on your future
  • Responding to negativity in a similar manner can reflect badly on you. All people will see is that you’re acting like someone who can’t seem to rise above an argument

What can students do?

  • Take the time to decide what to post and how to frame it in a positive light
  • Positive posts make a good “digital first impression” on people who could eventually impact your college or career opportunities
  • Make sure that your social media posts don’t come across as impolite or ungrateful
  • Being polite under difficult circumstances always reflects well on you, online or off
  • Search for yourself online regularly so you’ll always know what others are going to find

Logged in and still not seeing content? This course may not be part of
your membership plan. Click here to join.

School Districts: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events (And earn a $5 Starbucks gift card)*

Nov
07
Register

Disappearing Messages: Hidden Dangers Parents Need to Know

Understand the hidden risks behind disappearing messages and learn practical strategies to protect and guide your teen’s digital behavior.

Nov
12
Register

Disappearing Messages: Hidden Dangers Parents Need to Know

Understand the hidden risks behind disappearing messages and learn practical strategies to protect and guide your teen’s digital behavior.

Nov
19
Register

Disappearing Messages: Hidden Dangers Parents Need to Know

Understand the hidden risks behind disappearing messages and learn practical strategies to protect and guide your teen’s digital behavior.

Nov
21
Register

AI for Student Success: Being Productive & Learning Future Skills

This virtual parent night event will explore the fascinating world of AI and the role it can have in every student's educational journey and future career paths.

Dec
03
Register

Optimize Parental Controls Without Invading Your Student's Privacy

Understand how to set up parental controls and monitor your students without being intrusive.

Dec
10
Register

Optimize Parental Controls Without Invading Your Student's Privacy

Understand how to set up parental controls and monitor your students without being intrusive.

*Only for families in partner school districts or individual paid VIP members: to receive a gift card, simply attend the live event, join in the activities, and your family will be eligible to earn one gift card per year (while supplies last).

Become a Very Informed Parent (VIP) to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.

Dotted arrow to right
Learn about our
"Very Informed Parent" 
VIP Program
Right arrow
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com. Protect your family by taking my 1 minute quiz

This quiz will help you understand how safe your family is

Take Josh's 1 Min Quiz
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo

Schools & Districts: Partner with us to protect your community online

Our remote presentations (and website) teach over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.

Partner with SmartSocial.com
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo
Join Our Smart Social Podcast
each week on iTunes

With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.

Listen on: