To 'unfriend' or ignore, in a season of political ranting on Facebook

Published Oct 5, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Oct 5, 2012)

When the political ranting of your Facebook friends get wonkier or more diabolical than defending Big Bird or calling for open hunting season on the PBS icon, it can be tempting to "unfriend" them. But to do so is akin to social-media shunning of the worst sort, says Mary Ellen Slayter, a member of the local social media association, BRSocME, and founder of Reputation Capital. She advises against the unfriending for political reasons. "I think it's aggressive"—and the same goes for unfriending friends with numerous wall posts of babies or puppies, says Slayter, a former career-advice columnist for young workers at The Washington Post. "My No. 1 rule is: you can't call people names," Slayter says. "As long as people are talking about facts, I let them have at it." Only racist posts by an old acquaintance has justified an unfriending for Slayter. Be that as it may, Southeastern Louisiana University Communication Professor Joseph Burns says election season can spur many unfriendings. The trend intrigued Burns, so he recently conducted an unscientific poll of 24 of his most vocal Facebook friends—with left- and right-leaning views—and found they believe their posts point out fallacies, righting media wrongs and getting out their version of the truth. "My friends who believed they were having an effect said they hoped to encourage people to follow their lead," Burns says. They believe they can sway people's voting decisions with good, factual discussions, Burns says. His advice: "Keep your friends. … Wait it out." —Adam Pearson