No matter what social media platform you’re on, you can’t escape the heat of controversy. People use their pages to give voice to issues that matter to them most and start conversations about topics that aren’t often spoken about. But what do you do when those conversations turn sour?
If you find yourself caught in the middle of the crossfire of virtual conflict, there’s no need to fret. Diffusion tactics are a lot easier to use than you think! Here are three solutions to help you have a healthy debate on your page without getting caught up in the heat of an argument.
- Keep debates private.
People hide behind their screens and say all sorts of nasty things, but how is it best to respond? Letting the comments blow up will only lead to mob mentality and divisiveness, and other users will want to engage in the conflict by taking sides. That kind of communication is extremely unhealthy and ultimately unproductive.
Instead of publicly reacting to someone’s comment, it might be better to just privately message them instead. Having an exchange outside of the scrutiny of the public eye may lead to a more vulnerable conversation where you can learn from each other.
- Don’t engage with trolls.
Some people really like to instigate conflict. There’s no point in wasting your time trying to argue with someone that doesn’t want to listen or attempt to understand your point of view. They’re usually just looking for someone to offend.
The easiest way to spot someone who’s looking for attention in this way is by the way they caption their posts. If they directly address a certain party, organization, or person that they take issue with in an irrational way then they’re probably just trying to troll.
- Delete the drama.
At the end of the day, you have power over the people you follow and the content that shows up on your feed. If a person is misusing their social media and posting ridiculous things, you can mute their posts. If they try to comment nonsense on your page, you can delete their comment.
It’s more effective to follow people that want to engage in a civil conversation. You don’t need to keep up with people who are just trying to have the loudest opinion in the room. Sometimes the best way to prevent a heated argument is to stay away from the drama altogether.
