life coworkers. If social media was something you encountered a little later in life, it may feel strange for you to share this facet of yourself with your colleagues. Respect your own boundaries, and recognize the generational differences that are at play. Consistency is key Inevitably we will have some coworkers who feel more like friends, and others we aren’t so fond of, but if you are picking and choosing who to you will accept as a friend and who you won’t, you might run into hurt feelings and awkward conversations. If you are going to implement a rule such as “no friending coworkers,” stick to it across the board. Don’t post what you don’t want to be seen Despite privacy settings and whom your friend or follower list includes, always be mindful about posting complaints about your workplace, tirades about your boss, or pleas for a new place of employment. Even if your posts get personal, keep in mind that they might be seen by people you work with, and proceed accordingly. Stay logged out when you’re clocked in Once you accept friend or follower requests, the people you work with will begin to see your online activity. Of course, this sounds like common sense, but keep it in mind when you consider posting something while you are actually at work. While it is implicitly understood that most of us do check our social media accounts during work hours, it can appear unprofessional. Save those posts for your lunch break or for when the workday is done. Social media and its many uses are still a relatively new technology, and we haven’t quite caught up with it in terms of figuring out how to use it. However, there is no question that it is powerful and can affect your mental health. Pay attention to how you feel and never do anything you aren’t comfortable with. If you aren’t sure about whether you want to make that colleague a “friend,” give it time: their request will still be there next week. 34 | 2025 | Issue 1 Supporting Your Practice
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