The following is a post by JAY THOMPSON a former brokerage owner who spent six years working for Zillow Group.

His weekly Inman column publishes every Wednesday. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

I’ve abbreviated the post (it was 2400 words) but if you are an Inman subscriber you can access the post:

11 rules of engagement
to avoid social media trouble

Over 2.45 billion people use Facebook actively each month.

There are days when it feels like all 2.5 billion are clueless & rude. In today’s world, everyone can record a cell phone video and post it to the internet.

We live in a 24-hour news cycle.  Social media platforms allow the good, the bad and the ugly to always be on display.

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Although much of the content on the internet seems to be transient, the simple fact is the internet never forgets.

What you post today can be found tomorrow, next month, your online musings will live on, long after you have departed this planet.

Given the ubiquity and permanence of the online world, it seems prudent to understand — at least on a basic level — how to be a good “netizen” practicing proper “netiquette.”

Yet almost daily we are reminded of how misbehaving online can have very serious consequences.

One need look no further than the Inman News stream recently for glaring examples: “KW agent fired after comparing LGBT people to murderers,” and “NYC Compass agent fired over behavior toward homeless people.”

The following 11 etiquette tips might be helpful in navigating the stormy online seas. 

1. Avoid politics and religion

My recommendation now is to avoid political commentary.

Although there isn’t quite as much divisiveness when it comes to religion, there is still tremendous passion surrounding religious discussion.

Best to avoid a lot of public discourse on both politics and religion.

2. Don’t be racist or biased

Having conversations about racism are important, but as a “hot topic” with obvious sensitivities, be sure to examine your words closely and consider multiple angles of perception before posting. 

3. Know that nothing is private

It’s important to understand that nothing is private on the internet. If you think what you post in that secret group on Fb will never see the light of day, think again.

Screenshots are a click away, & many have found themselves backpedaling for something they said or did in a private group once it went “mainstream”.

Never post a comment, photo or video on the internet unless you’re OK with it going public or being brought up in court.  

4. Follow the golden rule

It’s been around for centuries across virtually every culture for a reason — the golden rule is sage advice for living life.

Treat others as you would like others to treat you makes a whole lot of sense if you stop and think about it.

5. Don’t spam

Please, stop the hard sell. We are bombarded with info, offers and more relentlessly daily. No one needs repetitive messaging flooding their in-boxes and news feeds. 

6. Stop with the “humblebrag”

One thing that has mystified me about the real estate industry is the need of so many agents to publicly proclaim their success.

This can be a very self-centered business, full of one-upmanship.

You know who cares that you closed some transaction after three months of busting your butt? No one.  

7. Exercise caution with humor

Humor is often a double-edged sword. It can be a great tactic to diffuse tricky situations or a good way to demonstrate your personality, humor has a way of backfiring, sometimes with serious consequences.

8. Don’t be a keyboard warrior

Your keyboard is a very powerful tool & absolute power corrupts absolutely.

There are plenty of keyboard warriors out there, the world doesn’t need anymore. Don’t be a keyboard warrior.

9. Never post while drinking- JUST DON’T!!!!

Just as you should never drink and drive, you should never drink and post.

Many reputations are ruined by an ill-timed, inebriated social media posts.

10. Separate the business and the personal

Real estate is an extremely personal business. This makes it hard to separate your business life from your personal life.

Make that effort to the extent possible, and you’ll eliminate a lot of the angst and potential pitfalls of posting controversial or misunderstood material.

11. Be nice

That age-old saying of every grandma is appropriate — if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

This isn’t to say that you can’t disagree with someone or that you have to march in lock-step with the general public’s school of opinion.

If you just try being nice, you will probably find yourself in a good place, rather than wondering constantly if what you’re saying will offend someone.