Here’s Why You Should Be Worried About Your Facebook Legacy

What will be your Facebook legacy?

Do you remember when the early days of Facebook (FB) were like walking the streets of the wild, wild, west? Friends and relatives would fight openly, forgetting that a private message would be a more appropriate way to duke it out. In those early days, users didn’t understand if they did something of which they were not proud, a picture could be snapped, tagged, and put up for all to see. FB warriors are more savvy today.

But when a thread about politics and religion appear, all commonsense goes out the window. Wild accusations are made. Comments appear with the intent of hurting people who are commenting on the thread. Bad language is thrown around like bat guano.

Here’s the important thing to remember. Everything you put up on FB becomes a written journal of your legacy.

It’s all there for future generations to read. All of your insensitivity, intolerance, anger, bad language, and bias remains for future generations to scrutinize. But all of your kind, loving, and thoughtful comments are also intact for review. Please understand: All of your FB comments are building your legacy for your kids, and grandkids, and their kids.

What will be your Facebook legacy?

While writing this article I took a break and checked FB. An ad appeared in my feed that promoted the ability to print a book containing all your photos from 2015. Make no mistake, it’s all being recorded, and you are writing a legacy by your activity on FB.

I am appalled at what I read in some threads. I’m not a prude. And, if a FB war broke out with personal attacks directed at me, I’m confident I could hold my own. But I’ve made the decision to see my FB comments as a way to build my legacy for future generations.

I admit to not knowing exactly what the future of technology in this area holds. But I fully expect that 100 years from now, your descendants will be able to pull up your FB comments and learn about the kind of person you were.

What will be your Facebook legacy?

I’ve often written about the importance of leaving behind a positive legacy. One reader replied in a comment section that he couldn’t care less about what others thought of him when he was no longer here. But that kind of thinking shows a misunderstanding of the endowment principle as taught in the ReFIRE process.

Leaving behind a positive legacy is not about hoping people have good thoughts of you at your funeral. This principle is much more important. It is about leaving behind a positive example upon which your loved ones can build their lives. I encourage you to read that sentence again. Your legacy will be used by someone you love, as an example on how they will build their life. This is why your conduct on FB is vitally important.

What will be your Facebook legacy?

As a premium content bonus, I’ve written A Checklist of 8 Cautions While Building Your Facebook Legacy. Just pop your email into the form below and keep reading.

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A Checklist of 8 Cautions While Building Your Facebook Legacy

1. When posting, write as though every one of your descendants will someday read it.

Why? Because they will. I’m convinced our descendants will have access to every one of our comments. As your future generations read your posts they will learn by your example how to live their life.

2. Treat others with dignity and respect.

When you treat others on FB with dignity and respect, you are showing future generations you lived by the Golden Rule of treating others as yourself. It demonstrates that you lived according to the standard Christ taught in the Gospels.

3. Make comments to posts which reflect who you really are on the inside.

It’s so tempting to get caught up in the heat of emotional debate and say something mean-spirited. Sometimes your comments are not really a reflection of who you are. It is a reflection of the high level of adrenaline generated by heated debate. Before posting in the heat of debate, sit back and count to at least ten!

4. NEVER post a comment without pausing to consider how your words will be received.

Will your comment to the post be hurtful or helpful? Are you sure you’ve read the entire thread and understand the context in which you are making your comments? Do the words you type convey how you really feel? Do they reflect your true position?

5. Remember, Facebook comments must be carefully worded because they are open to misinterpretation.

When I communicate with someone I prefer to do it in person. I take clues from hearing and visual inflections. A quick darting of the eye, a slight leaning forward, and a slight smile on the face all communicate. When posting on Facebook the only tools you have for communication are the words you post. Choose them carefully or you will be misunderstood.

6. When posting, be mindful that you have a large group of friends who represent a wide variety of beliefs.

Before you post, consider if your words will find someone in your group of friends. For example, you might feel very strongly about issues regarding the gay community or issues regarding race. But some of your FB friends might be gay and of a different color than you. Choose carefully what you say.

7. Don’t use FB as a place to gain sympathy though posting details of sickness or hurt feelings.

Stop posting things which prompt people to ask, “Are you OK?” or “Wow, what’s wrong?” Do you really want people to know, for all of eternity, how often you went to the bathroom when you had the flu? Do you want a permanent online record of all the times your feelings were hurt?

8. Will your comments be helpful or hurtful?

I grew up in a home where our greatest joy was to disagree with each other. I can hold my end in any debate. But what is the purpose? Try to add helpfulness to the thread. There is enough hatred and meanness in the world without you piling on.