Digital Life: How to handle social media showoffs

USA TODAY columnist Steven Petrow offers advice about digital etiquette.

Q: A childhood friend of mine recently got re-married, this time to a very successful man, and I'm happy for her. Problem is, her Facebook page has turned into a gallery of photos she takes of her family posed to show off everything they have now. She posts selfies taken on their boat, from their latest exotic vacation, at theater opening nights – you get the idea. It may be fun for her, but it really feels like she's just rubbing it in the faces of the old crowd, including me. How can I tell her these photos just make her seem shallow and rude?

--Anonymous

A: And that they make you feel envious, too? Believe it or not, 2015 is already being called "The Year of the Wealthie." What's that, you might ask? Well, as "selfie" was to 2014, "wealthie" is to now, with the key difference being that it's a photo of you loaded down with high-end stores' shopping bags, relaxing in luxury vacation spots, or behind the wheel of a beautiful (which is to say expensive) car. The example I both love and hate most is a recent Miley Cyrus Instagram photo that showed the singer outstretched on the floor amidst a sea of Chanel bags. If you thought selfies were bad, the wealthie is even worse.

My social media feeds are weighed down by wealthies these days, with friends and followers showing off here, there, everywhere. My point is this: Ticky, tacky is as much of a problem to those with means as those without. Maybe even more so.

Here's one more reason to be circumspect about those exotic vacations: Even with privacy settings set to the highest, photos you post from faraway locales pretty much shout out to the world: "We're not home. Come rob our house." Even those who have limited their news feeds to "friends," think again. If a friend's feed is open to the public, your posts and photos are on display – to everyone.

Think I'm a worry wart? Earlier this month, Allstate debuted an ad during the Sugar Bowl starring a social media-savvy burglar who breaks into a couple's house after they posted on Facebook that they were away for the game. Funny? Absolutely. A warning? Absolutely. You wouldn't leave home with the door open; don't make the same mistake on social media.

As for your "wealthie" friend, I'd suggest you "unfollow" her for a while. That allows you to remain friends without having to watch her high-end life roll by in your news feed. For everyone else: Curb your enthusiasm when showing off just how fabulous your family is; at the very least post your wealthies only to your closest friends (the ones who will enjoy them and not begrudge you).