Social Media Etiquette: Posting with a Purpose

  • Published
  • By 1Lt. Elias Zani
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Whether you're enlisted or an officer, you live by the Air Force's core values, "Integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do," but once you take your uniform off are you still expected to embody them?

The answer is yes.

Social media provides instant communication with others. Whether it is to reconnect with long-lost friends, let family and friends know that you'll be home late or show off photos, many people choose to communicate with others online.

Does this communication afford you freedom of speech? When posting on a personal account, anyone can speak their mind... right?

The bottom line: anyone who is or has been in the U.S. military can influence public perception or trust of the U.S. military. Everyone is a spokesperson.

Air Force Instruction 1-1 was written in 2012 and sends an overarching proclamation: 2.15.3. "You must avoid offensive and/or inappropriate behavior on social networking platforms and through other forms of communication that could bring discredit upon the Air Force or you as a member of the Air Force, or that would otherwise be harmful to good order and discipline, respect for authority, unit cohesion, morale, mission accomplishment, or the trust and confidence that the public has in the United States Air Force."

Online, many servicemembers have been digitally tagged at a military installation, had a photo taken of them in uniform or proudly confess that they are part of the military through their employment status.

What is posted online influences others' perception regardless of that person's security settings.

Does this mean that Airmen need to change what they say on social media? Not necessarily.

If a post doesn't contradict the core values that the Air Force expects Airmen to live by or brings discredit to the Air Force, post it. Conversely, if a post could bring into question the character or loyalty an Airman has to their country, they should consider the consequences.

In a time where supervisors are able to keep tabs on their employees through social media, know that online profiles can easily be deciphered.

"Names, pictures and locations make it fairly easy to pick out the people on social media who are military members," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Brown, the 354th Fighter Wing command chief.

When interacting online, Airmen should assume it will be online forever.

In 2010, Twitter gave their entire tweet archive to the Library of Congress and it is available to anyone.

After Super Bowl XLVI Beyoncé's publicist considered some published photos "unflattering" and requested that they be deleted. The original poster deleted the photos, but others had already posted them elsewhere and now an online search makes them readily available.

While using the internet, Airmen should think before they act.

Remember, Air Force core values should be seen through the way Airmen live their lives, both in person and online.

Brown encourages others to be smart while posting online. "Are your comments disrespectful to someone in public forum? Would you say the same thing to them if they were standing in front of you?" Brown said. "Social media like any other form of communication in this world comes down to respect."