<p>Filipinos are social media savvy in the sense that we are often on it. There’s not a platform that we haven’t used and polls that we don’t try to dominate. Take a look at Ms. Universe and how often we get the Ms. Photogenic prize (the prize goes to the candidate with the most internet votes). It’s easy to see why Filipinos are very active on Social Media. Most Filipinos have at least one family member who are working abroad. You can get in touch with your loved ones and even make <i>telebabad</i> like you were on PLDT landlines of old with apps like Viber, FB Messenger, or Facetime. You can even leave Skype on while cooking for yourself and with Dayunyor on the other side of the world doing his assignment. With you coaching him on the answers, of course. Using Google.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/24746629865_206c6e5b92_o.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="640" height="480" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/24746629865_206c6e5b92_o-1.jpg" alt="The OFW and Social Media in the Age of Information" class="wp-image-9434" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/24746629865_206c6e5b92_o-1.jpg 640w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/24746629865_206c6e5b92_o-1-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></a><figcaption>Filipinos are the world champions! They spent the most hours per day on social media channels.</figcaption></figure></div>
<h2>Not Everything is All Rainbows</h2>
<p>It’s easy to forget that you are in another country in this age of information. We can be so at home posting funny memes and statuses that we forget that the things we post will not stay within the privacy of our own circle of friends. Today we can be <a href="http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/balikbayan/106631-singapore-jails-filipino-nurse-seditious-posts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trolling our host country</a> and be in jail tomorrow. One moment we can be looking for love and be <a href="http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/12/04/ofw-accuses-former-boyfriend-posting-nude-pictures-her-online-445274" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">horrified at our naked pictures</a> once that love turns sour. We can be campaigning for our right to exact revenge but be <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-may-jail-woman-who-posted-video-of-husband-cheating-with-housemaid-a6683651.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">penalized thousands of dollars</a> because of what we posted online. Our timeline is not our house and remember that whatever we post is subject to scrutiny and the court of public opinion.</p>
<h2>12 Social Media House Rules you should be aware of</h2>
<p>These rules will help you to enjoy social media “safe and sound”, if you are abroad or at home:</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright"><a href="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/5209796269_3b538042c8_o.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="300" height="100" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/5209796269_3b538042c8_o-300x100.png" alt="ofw filipino social media" class="wp-image-3909" srcset="https://admin-blog.trueprofile.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/5209796269_3b538042c8_o-300x100.png 300w, https://admin-blog.trueprofile.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/5209796269_3b538042c8_o.png 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></figure></div>
<ul><li>Whatever you post may be used against you.</li><li>Edit your privacy. Why do you want all your posts to be public? A little mystery is a good thing.</li><li>Don’t befriend somebody you haven’t met in person.</li><li>Posting about going on vacation while having your address visible is like inviting thieves to an open house.</li><li>Constantly checking in makes it easy for a potential stalker.</li><li>Respect your host country and their culture – for example posting about food while Ramadan is going on is offensive.
</li></ul>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large"><a href="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/Flickr-guspim.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="711" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/Flickr-guspim-1.jpg" alt="The OFW and Social Media in the Age of Information" class="wp-image-9435" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/Flickr-guspim-1.jpg 1024w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/Flickr-guspim-1-300x208.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/Flickr-guspim-1-768x533.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>Choose your circle of friends carefully</figcaption></figure></div>
<ul><li>Negative posts about your employer while you are still employed with them will never result in anything good. Telling your boss that you’re sick and then posting “Party, parteyy!” the same night is a duh moment.</li><li>Never give out your password to anybody, not even a loved one.</li><li>Let’s save those bikini posts within our close friends (there’s such a thing as classifying your friends on FB). Saying that, be judicious in posting risqué pictures, even if the conversation is private. Even on Snapchat. Hello, screenshot!</li><li>Don’t repost anything that will damage somebody else’s reputation, you may be subject to penalty, even if the post was not originally yours. Even harsh comments on controversial topics can be tracked down!</li><li>Don’t drunk tweet!</li><li>Think before you click!</li></ul>
<h4><strong>If you have not already signed up to TrueProfile.io, sign up now!</strong></h4>
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<p><i>Picture attribution <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC BY 2.0</a></i></p>
<p><i>flickr.com/sarahmarshall</i></p>
<p><i>flickr.com/</i>guspim</p>
<p><em>flickr.com/smemon<br></em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wearesocial/">flickr.com/wearesocial</a> © 2016</em></p>