A new survey has unveiled the ten most annoying types of social media status update, with users who endlessly write and boast about exercise or weight loss ranking as the biggest irritants across Twitter and Facebook.

Moreover, the study, undertaken by fitness e-commerce site Sweatband.com, discovered that more than half (52 percent) of UK social networkers had decreased the amount of time they spend on social media sites because of irksome updates from friends and family – and 38 percent had quit at least one social site altogether.

Read more

Social media can be a boon and a bane to companies and consumers alike. It’s undoubtedly true that brands and consumers can have a constructive dialogue on Twitter and Facebook. Case in point: A WSJ subscriber misses an issue and tweets his displeasure to head honcho Rupert Murdoch himself. Not only did he get a reply, but some quality customer service as well!

Unfortunately, trolls abound in the online world and can drown out those offering constructive criticism. How can you tell the haters from those that are worth responding to? And how can you manage your time when it comes to responding to criticism? In the latest Mediabistro feature, social media experts weigh in on how to handle negative feedback in a way that’s best for you and your audience.

One big piece of advice: don’t just delete.

“How you handle a negative comment says much more about you than the comment itself,” said Shama Kabani, CEO of The Marketing Zen Group. “Removing a comment can lead to others accusing you of censorship and, at worst, can lead to a PR disaster.”

For more, read 7 Tips for Responding to Negative Social Media Feedback. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

Debrett’s, the “modern authority on all matters etiquette, taste and achievement”, has joined forces with UK internet service provider Sky Broadband and published a digital decorum offering etiquette tips for Twitter and Facebook users.

Founded in 1769, Debrett’s (named after London-born publisher John Debrett) publishes a range of guides on traditional British etiquette and manners, which date back to the mid-1900s. In recent years they have attempted to modernise and expand their range to include definitive works on correct Etiquette For Girls, Modern Manners and a Guide For The Modern Gentlemen.

That’s right – it’s all very proper, and very British, don’t you know.

Read more