Written by: Vickie Sullivan | August 18, 2020
Social Media: When Your Point Gets Lost In a Bigger Debate
I had a protracted conversation on social media earlier this summer after the tragic death of George Floyd. I learned a lot.
Backstory: A business colleague who has a strong reputation around social issues created a heated debate when he made a distinction about George Floyd’s life shortly after Floyd died. His social media post was a very specific point that became an example of systemic racism. His reaction was well-intentioned, but it poured gas on the fire. Everyone doubled down, and my colleague eventually deleted the post.
This can happen to any of us thought leaders. People sometimes make a very specific point, but they don’t consider the broader role that perspective plays in the larger debate. And that can easily lead to heavy accusations about your intentions. We want to be insightful and discuss the finer points, but doing so can easily backfire with hotly debated topics.
How to Correct Misunderstandings on Social Media
Here’s a two-step process to correct these misunderstandings before comments get too heated:
1. Acknowledge your mistake: In this case, the timing was off. Many folks saw my colleague’s comment as a distinction without a difference at the micro level, and a negative insinuation at the macro level. Explain where you messed up (wrong timing, assumption, wrong focus, etc.), and apologize for any pain or misunderstanding—but be brief. Don’t give folks more information to argue about. A fire can’t burn when there’s no more wood.
Listen: Two Common Responses That Pour Gasoline On the Fire
2. Fix the error (however small) on your end: Be willing to adjust your position and acknowledge your role in the situation. The original poster could’ve said, “Ya know, I can see how this finer point is just not important right now. Thanks for opening my eyes to the bigger picture.” That would’ve ended the carnage. The original mistake has been corrected. Everyone moves on.
Sometimes we share a point—in a blog post, on social media, in a podcast, etc.—that matters a lot to us, but it becomes a dog whistle for something we didn’t intend. It happens. If you quickly correct yourself, however, the impact of your conversations will not derail into recriminations. Instead it will be considered the sharing of productive insights.
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