What to Put on Social Media After the Election

Originally published in a lifestyle column of The Daily Star, www.hammondstar.com

By the time this column is published, the Election results will have come and gone. Many of us are on Facebook, and a few might be on Twitter or Instagram — and we can all attest: 2020 social media has been a doozy! There’s nothing wrong with having a strong opinion and debating with others in a respectful way, but some of us have spent a little too much time in the house during quarantine and seem to have forgotten our manners (myself included!).

It might be a little too late now to go back and unshare some posts or delete some comments, but we can change our tune as we enter what could be a lovely holiday season! Here are some ideas to lighten up your Facebook accounts and end 2020 on a positive note, as best as we can.

Post a picture of your children or grandchildren. Sweet babies put a smile on everyone’s face! Show us that brand new outfit and pose your kiddo just right. Bonus points for a video of them giggling or doing something hilarious. Don’t have any kids? Save a video of your friend’s kids and repost that. They’ll understand that it’s for a good cause!
Show off your Christmas tree. You say it’s too early for Christmas decor? I say no way! This year has been hard enough, so don’t bother depriving yourself of holiday joy. Christmas tree farms aren’t open yet? Let 2020 be the year of fake trees! Hobby Lobby has plenty of fake greenery, ornaments, and jingle bells waiting for you, so don’t waste any more time and get to decking the halls. Then, post a picture of your fabulous fa-la-la decor, and tag your friends to get them to do the same. I’ll be posting my own and scrolling my feed to see what you’ve got.
Feel-good videos are a must. A video of a dog greeting his owner as he returns home from serving in the military? Bring on the happy tears. A family leaving treats out for delivery workers? Yes please. Just go to YouTube, search “feel-good videos,” and share the best one you find. Faith in humanity restored!
Post your holiday vacation plans, and ask your friends for recommendations of what to do. Maybe you’re going to Dollywood for the fifth time and don’t need any help planning your trip, but it’s fun to see what others enjoy doing on vacation… and it’s something pleasant to talk about, which counts for quite a bit these days!
Share a memory from the good-old-days before coronavirus. I love to see people hugging, masks off, and enjoying themselves out on the town, and I’ll bet others on your friends list do too. Facebook even does the memory hunting for you: just hit share when one pops up, add a heart emoji or an “I miss this!” and you’re all set.

Start a trend where you post something unusual found in your car and challenge your friends to do it too. People will laugh and join in on the fun, and you’ll be motivated to clean up the weird things you leave in your backseat or trunk. It’s a win-win. My weird thing? A drink koozie from my cousin’s wedding two years ago.