Why Is Everything Political On Social Media?
You know there is less than 45 days left to the next presidential election in the United States if you spend any time on social media.
I spend quite a bit of time on X Twitter for business but lately it’s been tough to avoid all the political conversations and posts going on about the upcoming election on the network.
It can really be a distraction. Maybe that’s the intent.
Instagram and Facebook say they decrease the reach of political posts but I still see them there too.
Even with the use of Twitter Lists I’ve been getting social media marketers and SEO professionals now turned into political activists who fill up their posts with political content.
Time To Change Social Media Profile?
All this activity makes me wonder, should people change their social media profiles when they become political activists?
If you are following someone for their blog tips or SEO expertise, do you read their political posts? Or do you unfollow them or mute them until the election is over?
Do you unlist them if you have them on lists for your feeds?
Occasional Posts
I have no problem if someone occasionally posts about politics or other news events in the feed as long as they are not always posting about other topics that are not shown on their profile.
For example, I usually always post about blogging, SEO or social media on my X feed. However, from time to time I share about weather or major news events.
In my X bio I do have the description: “Social media time saver, consultant, and blogger. Passionate about blogging, SEO, travel, walking, nature, weather & puzzles. Owner @InspireToThrive ’’
So I sometimes post on X about my walks on the trails, etc. especially if I have a great photo to share with friends and followers.
The 80/20 Rule
The good old 80/20 rule is also known as the Pareto Principle, is a statistical rule that states that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of causes.
So if you post with the Pareto Principle in mind, 80% of what you post should be what is advertised in your social media profile.
It will help nudge your productivity level as well as keep your profile more professional.
Your Social Media Profile
Your social media profile is like a business card. If you change jobs or start a new business you will want that profile to be updated.
The same if you become a political activist. You may want to change your profile to reflect that at least until the election is over.
That way your posts will become more effective and you may gain more relevant followers as you post throughout the election season.
Facebook Feuds
Many people talk about the family feuds during election cycles. I saw a post last week where someone declared they would unfriend people who posted about political views they didn’t agree with until after the election.
Is that the best way to handle it? It may be for some people so they don’t feel angry when they jump onto Facebook to keep up with family and friends.
However, everyone has a right to their opinion. Freedom of speech is in the first amendment.
That’s something I would not want to lose, the right to express your opinions freely. That freedom can be verbally or in writing.
Conclusion: Keeping Your Profile Real
Now, you can understand why it’s important to keep your profiles authentic and continuously updated. If things change, be sure to update all your profiles across the social media platforms.
It will only benefit you, your business or your causes.
How often do you update yours and do you unfollow people when they post about other issues like politics on social media?
I’d love to hear about in the comments here on Medium.
