一头栽进手机，不理别人

 

When a friend or loved one wants to show you something on television or play you a track, they probably mean for you to engage in the experience rather than focus on your phone or tablet.

 

It's distracting and a little upsetting for them to then find you flicking¹ through your feeds or inbox rather than giving your full attention. 

 

If you're not that interested or want to watch or do something else, say so. Do one thing properly, not two things half-heartedly. 

 

在社交媒体分享“恋爱三个半月纪念日”

 

Social media has bred this false belief that all your 'friends' and followers² care about every moment in your life. What we used to just communicate to a select few now gets broadcast to hundreds. 

 

That it's 67 days until your wedding or your three-and-a-half-month anniversary of relationship bliss³ is not an update that anyone cares about. Even your partner may struggle to muster⁴ enthusiasm for such a menial milestone⁵. 

 

Less is very much more when it comes to sharing such matters. 

 

发“厚脸皮的工作贴”

 

Listen, we've connected with you on Facebook because we like you as a person and are keenly interested in you socially. QED: we are your friends, not your clients. 

 

Using your social page to promote a new scheme is shameless and unwanted. 

 

Fine - post one missive inviting⁶ your friends to like your business page, but do not blur⁷ the boundaries and use your friends to shift your gear using your personal account. 

 

晒美食摆拍

 

Years ago, people said grace before they ate. Today, they take photos of their food. 

 

Then they have a discussion as to which filter best sets off the scones⁸, and then they wonder why the scones have gone tepid⁹. 

 

Just eat them. 

 

在社交媒体“秀肌肉”，发健身照

 

I'm no fitness expert, but surely you should be using all your energy in the gym to actually workout, rather than use it to share with us the size of your muscles, or lack of hips¹⁰, as an Instagram story? 

 

Think how buff you could be if you used the time and energy to lift that 24kg weight rather than stage a photoshoot of it. 

 

It still counts as going to the gym even if no one else knows about it but you. 

 

添加不认识的“朋友”

 

Older generations, who came late to the Facebook party, do have a tendency to add people they know of, but have never actually met. 

 

Younger generations, who grew up thinking that a friend request from someone was a big deal, can find this a tad alarming; borderline intrusive¹¹. 

 

All generations need to get some perspective, but a good rule of thumb is to never add anyone you haven't met in real life. 

 

晒对镜自拍照

 

Nothing silently shrieks¹² loneliness more than posting a photo of you taken with a phone in your mirror. 

 

I do pity you, but resist sharing it. Ask a friend (you must have at least one) to take a photo of you rather than DIY.

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