Reading the Comments summary

Feedback is a form of commentary marked by the intention to help. Feedback can be challenging to deliver, as different audiences require different approaches. But once you’ve found the right balance in your feedback, you’ll have found a beneficial way of offering commentary.

You’re no doubt familiar with the concept of constructive feedback. Effective, constructive feedback encourages individuals to keep chasing a goal, boosts self-esteem and offers actionable recommendations on improving performance. This is in contrast to feedback which simply criticizes, condemns or complains.

Although the internet has expanded the number of channels through which we can express ourselves, most channels are noisy.

They’re noisy because they’re self-organized and context-driven. As a result of this, online popularity and good quality posts don’t always go hand in hand.

Online reviews are a solution to a real problem, allowing potential customers to learn about the quality of a certain product or service before spending any cash.

Good online reviews can be powerful, boost customer numbers and, in turn, increase revenue for a company. Because of this, online reviews are increasingly manipulated.

Any user can choose to comment anonymously online. You have the freedom to write to whomever you want and however you want.

This anonymity can lead to communication that might never happen if the people in question were speaking face to face. Faceless people, sadly, are often tempted to behave immorally.

Of course, you know what a “selfie” is. Referring to a picture taken of yourself and posted to social media, selfie was the international word of the year in 2013.

One of the pleasures of having an online presence is the freedom to create a powerful self-image. The flipside, however, is that “selfie” culture has spawned a boom in narcissistic behavior.