Thinking Beyond the Profile

Should We Judge Peeps by Their Social Media Profiles?

In the digital era we live in, most of us have some kind of presence on social media. Platforms like Facebook, the 'Gram, Twitter, and TikTok let us share snippets of our lives, thoughts, and opinions with friends, fam, and the wider world. But how much can these curated highlights actually tell us about a person? Should we make judgments about someone's character based solely on their social media persona?

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There are a few factors to peep here. On one hand, social media does provide a window into interests, values, and beliefs. The causes someone advocates for, accounts they follow, and content they share and comment on can reveal meaningful info about who they are. If someone's feed is full of racist, sexist, or otherwise offensive material, that may indicate something about their worldview.

However, there are also good reasons to avoid rushing to judgment based only on social media. First, what people choose to share online is carefully curated. You're seeing a carefully constructed identity, not necessarily the real deal. The happy couples posting loving tributes may be miserable behind closed doors. The glam vacays and perfect bodies are often staged or filtered. No one's real life is as perfect as their Instagram grid.

Second, social media often brings out people's most exaggerated selves. The anonymity of the internet and quest for “likes” leads some to take more extreme stances or share more provocative content than they would offline. A taste for incendiary political memes doesn't necessarily mean someone is radical IRL.

Third, we all have many sides to our personalities. Judging someone solely by one facet of their identity, like social media, will provide an incomplete and distorted view. They may use different platforms to show different sides of themselves. Or they may strictly keep professional and personal accounts separate. Getting to know the whole person is necessary before making judgments.

And finally, people can change. Someone's years-old tweets or pics don't necessarily represent who they are today. If the questionable content is from the distant past, it may be unfair to let it overwrite current impressions without a convo.

In summary, while social media can offer insights into who someone is, it should never be the sole basis for judgment. Here are some tips on fairer ways to evaluate peeps both online and offline:

• Remember online personas are carefully curated. Don't assume social media equals reality.

• Consider context. Offensive content may be jokes, sarcasm, or extremism bred by the internet. Get clarification before judging.

• Look for multiple perspectives. Cross-reference different platforms and friend groups to get a more balanced view.

• Value IRL impressions. Don't let online posts override how someone treats you in person.

• Watch for growth. If old social media posts don't align with the current person, discuss before deciding.

• Consider your own bias. Are you judging harshly to make yourself look better by comparison?

• Don't judge a book by its cover. Dig deeper through meaningful convos to uncover common ground.

While social media can provide insights into someone's interests and beliefs, it should never be the sole basis for judging character. Take time to dig beneath the surface through open and compassionate dialogue instead. With more understanding and less knee-jerk reactions, we can use social media to bring us together rather than push us apart.