How to handle social media?

[Nate14]

Since I'm in my early 20s, social media is a big part of my life. I've been slowly coming out to all of my close friends, working up the nerve for family, but what about after?? All the people I like keeping up to date with but don't talk to. The ones who have moved across country, old highschool teachers, distant classmates. I don't want to send everyone a personal explanation, but I also feel I might severely shock some people if I just started changing my profile to reflect me.

It's a little confusing, as I don't know the boundaries between too personal, and too nonchalant.
Has anyone changed their social media presence before telling all of their acquaintances? I don't want to make a post and then the comments section explode with everyone's view points and opinion.

Thanks!

[Denise]

I just changed my name and profile.  No explanation given.  Those that were curious asked and others just ignored it.

One thing I've learned (full-time since March) is people generally don't care.  It's such a letdown.  I expected all sorts of comments and received exactly one: hey <dead name> it looks like your account was hacked." I responded "nope, there have been a few changes in my life."

I suggest you not make a big deal out of it.  After the initial shock, they don't care.

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[Cheaney]

Interested in hearing theses answers. Tagging in on the thread.

[KathyLauren]

I came out to the people I care about - family and closer friends - in person or by personal email.  For the rest, I posted a notice on Facebook explaining what was going on.  I changed the name and gender on my FB account the next day.  For some email lists I am on, I just posted to the list with a brief explanation.

I got zero negative reactions.  People were either supportive or didn't say much.  No one unfriended me, and I now have about 25 more FB friends than I did before.

[Laurie]

  I am about to make an announcement on my facebook page. It's about time. I have pretty much told all of those friends and family that I felt needed a personal explanation. The others reading it on facebook can accept it of not I don't really care. I plan to start a new facebook page as myself or figure out how to make the changes on the current one.

  Hugs,
   Laurie

[Gertrude]

I wonder if it's possible to combine profiles?


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[Laurie]

I wonder if it's possible to combine profiles?

On facebook? I doubt it because you are only supposed to have one. As for me I did figure out how to change picture and name and did that then posted my announcement. It's done for good or bad. I'm out.

Laurie

[Sophia Sage]

Another option is to ghost the current page and start a new one -- or leave FaceBook altogether.

The number one reason for doing this is to maintain narrative privacy...  so if at some point you decide that narrative nondisclosure (or "stealth") is the right thing for you, you might actually have a chance at achieving it.

[Cheaney]

I'm thinking about leaving Facebook altogether. I hardly use it anymore. Twitter is so much better.

[Gertrude]

On facebook? I doubt it because you are only supposed to have one. As for me I did figure out haw to change picture and name and did that the posted my announcement. It's done for good or bad. I'm out.

Laurie

I have two. I know others that do too. The two profiles are quite different.


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[LizK]

I changed my Name and profile picture and I posted what was happening with me to all my family and friends I also used it to draw a line in the sand and say after today I would like everyone to use my correct pronouns and my new Name is Liz. I had a huge amount of positive support and have lost only a couple along the way and I say good riddance.

[sarah1972]

So far I have not changed Facebook. I do have a second profile for Sarah but never really use it.

I have changed the professional social media (LinkedIn and Xing) - just changed name and profile picture without explanation. On LinkedIn no one noticed yet, on the much smaller Xing I did get a whole lot of positive comments.

Facebook is still on hold, there are still a bunch of people I need to talk to before. Also a few friend my wife would not want to know (yet), so I'll just keep it. It is just funny that some folks call me Sarah on my Facebook :-)

[Michelle_P]

I had both LinkedIn and Facebook accounts.  On Facebook I initially set up a parallel account for Michelle, alongside his old almost unused account.  Both accounts were set up to be fairly secure, minimal public content.  Because Facebook has such clever automation to map associations, I used different devices for the old me and Michelle, with Michelle's gadget never looking at his content, and his device never looking at Michelle's stuff.

Once I went full-time the partitioning was not necessary.  His old Facebook account was abandoned, very little there anyway.  The LinkedIn account, with all his professional history, patents, and such got a new avatar and name change.   I also posted a version of my coming-out letter there.  Nothing but positive feedback there!

[RobynTx]

I only plan on telling close friends and some family personally. The rest can read it on Facebook when I post it there. I'm known as a practical joker so 99% will think it's a prank. I already have the post made out in my head. Beyond that I don't have much else planned for coming out. I don't want a major ordeal to come out of it.