What’s Acceptable and Non-Acceptable to Discuss on Social Media

Publishing Your Family's Dirty Laundry on Social MediaI’ve been using various forms of social media to chat with friends, family members, other moms, home business owners, bloggers, etc. for the past 12 years. I was hanging out on social media sites before it even became popular. I was a big user 15 years ago on wahm and mom chat forums that were hosted all over the web.

Fast forward several years and now you’ll find social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Snapchat and others. These type’s of sites draw in millions of users every day.

Over the past 2-3 years I’ve seen a trend that I absolutely HATE, hence my “IRK OFF SHELLY” topic for this week.

Why in the hell do people (especially women) feel the need to air out their family’s dirty laundry all over social media? In particular, I’m talking about Facebook and Twitter? Sure, we all get upset and pissed off at our spouses, children, friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, etc., but why are you broadcasting your dirty laundry on social media??? What’s the purpose of this???

I’m an older and more mature woman and I absolutely HATE seeing this! I don’t want to read about your spouse cheating on you and how you plan to get your revenge! I don’t want to read about your latest night out partying and how you got arrested for getting into a brawl. I don’t want to hear about how this family member or that friend is screwing you over, what they did and how you’re going to make them suffer for it! I certainly don’t want to read about what you and so & so do in your bedroom either! Gross and disgusting!

I understand pain. I understand hurt, anger and deception. I understand that you may need to talk to someone and get it all out. However, I don’t understand why people feel the need to broadcast their family business allover social media? What ever happened to keeping some of your issues private and between the people who are involved? What about contacting your close associates via email or private message and talking privately with them instead of torturing the rest of us and making yourself look like an unclassy fool?

Frankly, I find it all very embarrassing, immature and definitely UNCLASSY for those who are doing it, which is mainly the younger generation with most being women. I think you should keep your family drama off of social media as broadcasting it all over the place causes more harm than good for the people who are involved. Second, your followers don’t want to read all about your drama and dirty-little scandals going on in your life. Well, at least that’s my opinion. Third, acting this way solves NOTHING and actually makes the issue worse.

So, let’s hear your opinion on this topic. Do you find this type of behavior acceptable or unacceptable?

Shelly's Signature

Comments

  1. Jo-Ann Brightman says

    I find it to be unacceptable and don’t want to read about it on Social Media. I agree completely with your rant!.

  2. ellen beck says

    I dont mind reading about some if it is pertinent to what a person blogs about. For example a blogger whom I adore is having problems with a family member and she is sad over it. He has had problems since he was a child. Long time followers have watched the kid grow up and she has had a focus of her blog in helping others deal with problems somewhat the same. She doesnt get over personal though.
    My rant would be political junk. The either ‘agree with me or I delete you’ If someone wants to debate an issue to get reactions or responses, they need to listen to both sides.
    But then too being older I was taught you dont discuss politics or religion and now I would have to add drama.
    B

  3. Tamra Phelps says

    We all have those relatives & friends who, shall we say, overshare, lol. I agree, it can cross a line. If it’s someone I care about or don’t want to hurt, I might just unfollow them (not unfriend, just unfollow) & once in a while make sure I direct a comment toward them so they don’t realize they’ve been unfollowed, lol.

  4. I was laughing when I read this one. I so love your rants. I can’t agree more with you. I do not want to hear about people’s personal issues on social media. I think most of these people need to sign off and go out and make some real in-person human friends to talk to.

  5. Darlene Demell says

    I agree with you Shelly. I don’t know why people feel the need to air everything on social media sites. People even tell every move they make through the day. What they eat, where they go, who they see and talk to etc. Why? What purpose does it serve? I usually delete things like that. I don’t need to hear about it.

    • That drives me nuts too! I want to read important stuff. Not the petty little-things going on in someone’s life. Another thing that pisses me off is those Facebook updates where people state they’re deleting you if you don’t say hi or like one of their posts & they’re tired of lurkers. Whatever.

  6. Julie Wood says

    What about broadcasting every health problem on social media. People are discussing every detail of their health. That needs to be kept private. I do not need to know other people’s surgeries and pictures. Unreal. I also do not want to hear all the drama that you are talking about! It is getting terrible out there on social media!

    • OMG…I was following this one guy over on FB who had 3 surgeries this past year. I don’t mind announcing them but after he one he took photos of his wounds and crap and plastered them all over his page like it was a badge of honor or something! Even as an ex-healthcare professional, I was grossed out.

  7. I find it unacceptable. I enjoy hearing about what my friends are up to but don’t need details of their personal lives.

  8. I don’t want to read about the messy family drama of the type you describe (being in a brawl, family members or friends doing bad things, etc.) so I am with you. I am a senior citizen so perhaps it is a younger generation thing to overshare.