A
female
age
51-59,
anonymous
writes:Am a long time facebook and instaG/twitter user, and like many of us have “friends” and “followers” who are not really friends.Like colleagues, aquaintances, even family/siblings I never see and who do not comment on my posts..So.. regarding aquaintances I see around or..colleagues (90% younger than me) that I’m not friends with or see outside work, ( but am polite and professional at work with.) Is it creepy or rude or inappropriate to comment to aquaintances or family or friends, when you see them in person around (or see colleague at work) what they put on facebook?Like if a coworker had been for a weekend away with friends or had an event, and posted fun and happy photos on facebook, should I ask her how her weekend or event was?Even if we’re not real friends and so she didnt tell me of her plans?Or is that stalker like and odd?Social media, FB, IG, twitter etc is for sharing but should we ever Comment in person on what they post?Or just to real “friends”? Not colleagues or aquaintances..
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female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (5 April 2019):
 Asking someone you work with if they had a great weekend or days off, I think it totally fine. I just wouldn't MENTION that you say on social media that they did XYZ. THAT is for them to share, IF they wish. While that might sound a little ODD as they shared it with the "Whole World" already, it probably wasn't intended for EVERYONE but those they regards as friends and family.
If they wish to share, there are plenty of ways to give them the opportunity to do so.
If they don't, I'd respect that and keep that level of "sharing" to people I ACTUALLY spend time with and consider FRIENDS.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (5 April 2019): When social media never existed I knew who my friends were, we enjoyed sharing our life and experiences with each other, the happy times and the heartbreak times, we created special bonds,lifetime experiences that we felt together. Social media can have its good points and can also be of great benefit to lonely people, but it also gives a false sense of security because you are having to follow a SM etiquette to keep people happy and save personal embarrassment,real friendships are natural. We don't need stacks of friends, one great friend is like gold.
Social media is actually unsociable, while we are all on FB socialising with pretend surface friends our next door reality might be an elderly neighbour sat alone every day of their lives.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (3 April 2019): There are people you may simply accept as a follower among your contacts. Then there are people that you actually know and interact with apart from social media.
I think a good rule about things you see on social media about non-family, colleagues, or acquaintances is to allow them to bring-up things they've posted in conversation.
Sometimes, people forget that some things posted get published publicly that they may have only intended for select-contacts. To mention something personal or regarding their family-members that you may have inadvertently viewed; could cause embarrassment or awkwardness. If you're not sure you should comment, it's best to keep comments to yourself.
Keep in-person discussions about social media at a bare minimum; if you don't really interact with people that much apart from social media. You're simply a follower or spectator...free to like or use emojis. Maybe a short impersonal comment or compliment now and then online. Free discussion may not be appreciated.
I've witnessed a few faux pas where someone made remarks about something on social media that wasn't meant to be shared in-front of other co-workers. There was no malice intended; but it did cause a little tension between employees for a short while. I also recall an incident where someone mentioned a pool-side barbecue among my friends; and some new people within the group (not quite considered close friends) didn't know about it! They never really kept-up with Facebook, and didn't get an invite! The air was quite thick and the atmosphere got suffocating.
It's best to play it safe among "real-friends!"
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (3 April 2019): If you have to read about and they don't engage in public with you, then most likely they don't care to have a friendship outside of facebook.
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