Turn Your Filter On

There’s a lot of hate going around these days, especially when it comes to social media. I’m following a lot of anonymous accounts (or at least I think they are) from people in the radio business. I’m not gonna lie, some of the posts are funny and relatable, some of them call people and companies out by name, and some of them are just downright mean. I also follow a lot of company, station and talent accounts that are not anonymous. And sometimes the things I read just baffle me. It’s hard for me to imagine that any company would allow talent to say things they say sometimes. And don’t get me wrong, I am the first to advocate for “Freedom of Speech and Expression,” and owning your own brands regardless of your company’s desire to control them, but there is a certain “Code of Conduct” you must abide by if you are a public figure. If your posts are full of hate, misogyny, racism, abuse, etc. expect to be vilified, retaliated against, and in certain circumstances, fired from a really good job over something you posted out of ignorance.

We’ve seen a lot of that lately, seasoned talent being fired from on-air positions because of something they posted on one of their social media accounts. Remember that the world is constantly changing, and you need to grow with your audience. And I am not suggesting you change your views or opinions and don’t have a right to them, but know that if you cross the line, it’s going to come back and bite you if it goes against a code of conduct that offends your ever-changing community and/or company. It may not matter to you in the normal scheme of things, but if you lose your job because of it, or incite hatred and anger, you are going to have to face some serious consequences.

That’s why it’s critical to put your ego aside and turn on your filter before you post something on a social media account. Whether you like it or not, it will live there forever, deleted or not, someone will see it. A good example of this has been pointed out a lot lately on social media and among industry panel discussions. A nationally syndicated Top 40 Morning Show host posting misogynistic messages about women on social media thinking because he is a comedian, everyone thinks it’s funny. Not the case. People pay specifically to go and see a comedian knowing what to expect at their shows. Radio is free and mass appeal, and so is social media, especially in the Top 40 format, and the very demographic these posts attack is the primary target demo of the talent and its affiliates. Not Good. You might be able to get away with it during a long form show or podcast if there is time for context, but I doubt it. Here are a couple of questions to run through your filter before you hit send or post:

1. Does this post send a specific message that will make a connection?
2. Does it have a purpose, and is this message worth it?
3. Does this post help build a connection with followers and/or listeners, or could it potentially drive them away?
4. Is this message controversial and if so, does it invoke passion? Or does it invoke hate?
5. Could this post get me fired or removed from this social media outlet which in turn cuts off the head of the snake all together?

It’s time to make better decisions about what you post on the internet. Sure, I miss the days of my @shitpeoplewearinvegas account. It was hilarious and got tons of likes. I never posted names or actual faces, but it was great content for anyone who has ever been to Las Vegas. But at a certain point, as I became an executive in a very public business, I had to make a professional decision and let it go, because it could be perceived as mean and abusive, and that’s not cool. And those without knowing the context or with little sense of humor could perceive it as hate. I NEVER want to be that person. It’s also possible that currently with the way things are now, it could have impacted my career in a negative way. And the success of 20 plus years in the business was not worth one silly Instagram account. Neither is an ignorant post sent because you didn’t turn on your filter before you sent it. So, make sure you take the steps to do so properly before you find yourself with a bunch of haters, or out of job because you did not turn it on before you sent the post.