Let's Make These 6 Resolutions About Our Online Behaviour For 2018

The internet is an endless sea of opportunities and learnings. Social media on the other hand is like a black hole. It's endless, yes, but it can also be dark and has the ability to pull you right in without an escape, if you let it. Some things people do and say on social media can be mind boggling and outright vicious. It's an easy trap to fall into, though, for most people. There are a few things we all ought to make a conscientious and conscious effort towards not doing on social media. Here are a few of them:

1. Don't put up your pictures from last night on Instagram, when you faked an illness at work

So you decided to go for a music festival on Friday and took the day off from work. Only, you didn't actually apply for leave - you decided to call in sick. You're not absolutely abnormal. We get you; we've all been there done that at some point in our lives. It can be tempting when all your friends are headed for a fun weekend and your boss decides to be a buzzkill. No matter how much your boss might like to dampen your sunshine happy weekend though, don't take him/her for a fool. Or shall we say, don't be quite so foolish yourself and put up those raging pictures from the weekend on social media. That is not a smart move. Even if you don't have your boss on social media, someone from HR or someone who knows someone could very well see it. It is a small world, you know? This is not us asking you to trick everyone, it's just us trying to be a friend in need and warning you that this social media habit - of needing to put everything online as soon as it happens - could land you in deep trouble.

2. Quit 'Trolling'

What is trolling, really? Seems like it's just a bunch of angry, very confused messages from people who don't really have much going on in their own lives. Stings a little, doesn't it? Perhaps, because we've all engaged in it a little bit here and there, even if only very mildly. Think about it, though, how does putting another individual down and calling them all sorts of names in the name of "freedom of speech", especially when no one can put a face to your name seem anything less than a deplorable act? We're all entitled to a point of view and if that point of view comes from a place of knowledge or thoughtful sentiment, it can be appreciated. A point of view born and bred in ignorance is hard to respect.

So here's what I'm trying to say - being angry about and commenting on a policy that the government has passed because it hampers your growth in some way is understandable. Losing all sense of perspective, feeling disgruntled and commenting non-stop on a picture because Priyanka Chopra wore something you don't like is not.

3. No more seeking validation from strangers online

From drinking a cup of tea to wearing the clothes that you like, and even travelling to places around the world - nothing seems okay to do unless it's social media-approved. Unless it looks cool on social media, what's the point of doing it? As if this rising sentiment in us millennials wasn't enough, Instagram decided to pull out their poll option. This or that, it's easier than ever to ask what should be done and to seek approval from those who follow you.

Here's the thing, though, your life is yours for a reason. You ought to do what you please, regardless of what strangers on the Internet think. And most of them are strangers, at the end of the day. So rock those mom jeans and velvet pants even in 2018 if you want to, even if social media says "it's so 2017". The Internet is not always right.

4. Avoid, at all costs, atrocious misogynistic jokes on Whatsapp groups

If you're laughing at sexist wife jokes that some uncle, aunt, friend, relative or co-worker finds amusing enough to share with you on a Whatsapp group, you're really as much a part of this vicious circle as they are. What seems funny in the moment to many is actually only reinforcing what most people have been brought up seeing - women as the butt of every joke. The wife is always angry and always thinks she's right, the girlfriend will kill you if you become friends with another woman, the boss is always on her period because she's so cranky. Really, if there's only one thing you'd pick off this list, pick ditching the misogyny for good. No, just because you didn't send it ahead doesn't mean you're not complicit. Unless you're actively objecting to it, you're part of the problem.

5. Stop passing strong judgements or verdicts on issues you don't really know about

Okay, I'm just going to say it upfront - doing your research on social media is not the smartest way to do your research. There, I said it. Reading someone's status or listening to them rant about something they feel deeply about is not the same thing as reading a well researched, carefully thought-out, detailed article on the subject. So the next time you're tempted to write an essay of a comment on someone else's status about an issue you think you've 'heard' enough about - think again.

I'm tempted to cite the example of the storm of historical knowledge that everyone seemed to suddenly possess when Kareena and Saif decided to name their baby Taimur, but I won't - lest I create another one.

6. Browse your social media feeds for less than 45 minutes a day

According to research, the average person spends around 1 hour 40 minutes browsing their social media feeds every day. This accounts for about 28% of the total time spent on the Internet. Is that really the best use of your time? When was the last time you came away feeling enriched or more knowledgeable after draining hours of your day and night on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? The Internet is a wonderful place, really. There's so much for each of us to learn if only we'd stop trying to make only what other people are doing our business. Watch documentaries, discover new music, find artists you relate to, understand people around the world outside of Instagram. There's a lot you can do on the Internet other than browse social media.