There are those among us who honestly believe that the zombie apocalypse is possible and even inevitable. The undead pandemic has sparked countless conversations devoted to how the outbreak will begin and how to survive once it's underway. However, in all the flesh eating excitement, would people change their social media habits? If communications technology were to last any length of time during the crisis, some social media habits may be responsible for making unsuspecting people zombie chow.
Don't Check-in or Share Personal Information:
Foursquare fans have adopted the habit leaving commentary and checking-in at any given location. While this maybe helpful in certain scenarios, like marking a danger zone full of the zombies, it's probably a bad idea more often than not. Remember, the undead are not the only threat during the zombie apocalypse. Advertising a wealth of supplies or the location of a secure hideout could invite less other people looking to share the wealth. It may be more beneficial to keep personal information secret instead of broadcasting it to unfriendly survivors.
Avoid Facebook Games:
The numbers of people who have fallen victim to the likes of Farmville and Candy Crush would probably rival the number of living impaired at the peak of the pandemic. These games could mean your joining the ranks of the undead. Games might be nice distraction to escape the horrific memory of that narrow escape from a neighbor trying to chew on the family, but it is a life threatening distraction. Many admit that social networking games have sucked up hours of their day. Imagine needing those hours to scrounge for food and find supplies. Waiting until the last minute to find food and supplies can lead to needlessly risk actions and hasty decisions trying to make up for lost time.
The Hazards of Not Unplugging:
Now more than ever people are connected at an unprecedented level through social media. One of largest enablers is the ability to stay connected using mobile devices. A strong argument could be made that a mobile communication device can be a life saver. Event though a smartphone could have many positive contributions, it can just as easily be the users demise. Texting while driving has become a leading cause for automobile related accidents because the distraction is akin to putting on blinders. The same hazard apples among zombies. It only takes one blind turn around a corner while updating a status to bump into a rotting ear chewer.
Resist Showing Off:
Countless photos and YouTube videos document somebody trying to show off doing something reckless. The photos and video depict just as much failure as success in an individuals endeavor to gain a little bit of fame. Just because it's the end of the world doesn't mean that it's the end of narcissism and need for attention. Whether the stunt includes a death defying skate board leap over a pool of flesh eaters or a contest to see how many selfies can be shot with a zombie, online reputation management will be the least of ones worries after that kind of slip up.
Hypothetically speaking, if communications were to last during the undead threat, common social media practices might betray the unwary social media user. During a zombie apocalypse it is a good idea to keep a low profile, a concept alien to many active social media advocates.
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