Think you can get away with more online? Sure, it’s easier to moderate your personality in online communities. But there may be certain social media body language which community members judge you on. Here’s how…

How you describe yourself
This is the obvious one. People may get the wrong (or disturbingly, right) perception if you are still publicising the email address iloveyourmum69@hotmail, a Simpsons characterture as a profile pic and a description including the words “always up for a good time”.

What you post
You’re the first one to upload the new Twilight movie to BitTorrent. You Twitpic a photo of Miranda Kerr at the airport. You blog evidence of the new Apple iPhone. All will give you instant credibility. If you constantly update your Facebook status about how you are going to the gym this afternoon… not so much credibility.

How you respond
Social media contacts can be like air hostesses – you only see their true personalities when things get rocky. It’s inevitable that you will get negative comments when you post in places like blogs or YouTube. Your reaction will say more about you than what you post.

Who you are friends with
You can hear the collective groan of the workplace when the first colleague makes their boss a Facebook friend. It’s all out in the open now. On the other hand, when your new flame does their initial Facebook stalk and sees that you are friends with your Mum, you will score big brownie points.

Who you talk to
It’s one thing to be friends with but engaging takes it to another level. If your colleagues find you organising weekend meetings with your boss it is likely that they may get a little edgy. On the other hand, if your new flame sees you catching up with your Mum via Facebook, the warning bells may start sounding.

Where you post from
You’re on your way home on the bus and use your Blackberry to tweet about the delay on the 512. Acceptable. You update your LinkedIn status to include your new project while you are at work. Acceptable. You use an internet booth at Glastonbury to upload photos of the festival “so far”. Um… we can wait – get out there and enjoy it.

The way you talk
Do this. Go on to your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn status and drop the ‘C-bomb’. See if you lose any contacts. I bet you do. Or, spell evry second wordd incorrectly or shorten yr wrds or TYPE IN CAPS LOCK. You will be judged.

When you post
Are you one of those early morning risers who tweet motivational quotes while the rest are struggling to get out of bed? Or one of those whose online interactions occur primarily on Friday and Saturday nights? Or one of those people who constantly tweet all day between 9 and 5 while everyone else has their head down? Or one of those who are “working on a special project” at 1am in the morning? Hmmm.

Your interests
You’re likely to tell your online communities about things you like such as the TV shows you are watching, the nightspots you go to and the type of alcohol you drink. They all represent you. If you show off your So You Think You Can Dance moves at The Family nightclub while drinking a Cruiser there’s a good chance we won’t get on.

The platforms you use
Personally, I’m always suspicious of a 33 year old male who keeps his MySpace status up to date “just in case someone wants to get in touch”. On the other hand, I am always excited to see the hidden Flickr photo stream of a friend who I never knew was interested in photography. It’s impossible to stay across every social media platform. Just like brands, the reputation of the communities that you choose to get involved in will represent you.

Have I missed anything? Is there any other social media body language which you use to judge people which I haven’t mentioned?

Related posts:

1. Getting To Fourth Base In Social Media Relationships
2. Slactivism: Can social media actually cause social change?
3. Help Name a Social Media Guy