“Sorry For Your Lost” And Other Social Media Posts To Not Bring Into 2021

Source: Delmaine Donson / Getty

Social media has forever changed communication as we know it. We can now stay in touch with friends, old and new. It can also be a good way to show the world what we value most, the lifestyle we’re living, and our thoughts on the world we live in. We can easily find like-minded people to connect with over common interests, from cooking to travel to experiences, such as attending the same schools or even being descendants of the same people.

Social media can be informative and fun, and the connections we make using the various platforms can expose us to amazing people, businesses, and opportunities. At the same time, it can also be a source of foolishness and downright annoying behaviors we can do without.

Here are some common social media posts I saw in 2020 that we need to agree to keep out of 2021.

Motivational/Inspirational Posts Paired with Inconsistent Images

Ladies, we can all use daily motivation. Be it a bible verse, inspirational quote, or positive meme; it’s always better to use your voice to say something encouraging. We have enough negativity in this world, especially living through a pandemic and handling challenges that are unlike anything most of us have encountered before. A dose of encouragement is a good thing!

Where a good thing can go bad is when you pair those uplifting messages with your sexiest selfies. I can agree that good self-esteem is a must, and I don’t fault anyone for having it, but there is a time and a place. I may want to agree with what Maya Angelou is saying in your post, but the picture of you in your best thong bikini that you used to illustrate her point creates a dilemma for me. I’m sure your admirers don’t mind, but I, for one, can do without this.

Source: PictureNet Corporation / Getty

Humble Bragging

We all go through high notes and struggles in life, so unless you’re dealing with actual trolls, people want to see stories of success and blessings. A decent person, no matter how well we know you in “real life,” will gain some joy in seeing someone succeed. Even a jealous person can have a brief moment of happiness in witnessing a blessing.

With this in mind, I do need you to stop beating around the bush when you finally get what you’ve been wanting. We all know you don’t need to take a wide panoramic photo that just so happens to include a full view of your new spa bathroom to tell us how much you like the new bubble bath you’re trying out or how far you’ve come.

You are allowed to be happy about things like this, so how about just posting a full photo with a caption about how you finally got your dream bathroom and that you want to share your excitement with us?

Source: PeopleImages / Getty

Misdirected Rants

Like many others, my social media friends and connections represent a variety of people, from childhood friends and family to total strangers who appear to be interesting in some way. In most cases, before connecting, I found something in common with the people I accepted invitations from — a shared friend, interest, or experience. The last thing I expect is to be told off by someone I may or may not know, yet it happens regularly on social media.

Whether my social media friend is unhappy with “haters” or whatever the case may be, I don’t want to scroll down my timeline and read that my virtual days are numbered unless I get right, especially since I am 99.99% sure I am completely innocent.

In 2021, use filters or private DMs to be sure you’re telling off the right people, and spare the rest of us.

Source: Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty

The “Everyone’s Getting Cut Off” Threat

The next step after the misdirected rant is often the reality show style threat. It may begin with an announcement that there will be cuts made and that many won’t survive. You may need to respond to the post to prove you are actively engaging with your social media friend and deserve to stay. If you don’t have that option, you simply need to wait it out and see if you are still connected tomorrow. If so, you will see a post confirming that if you see said post, you’ve survived the social media version of the Big Chop.

This one is tricky because you can’t control the outcome. It’s an “off with their head” scenario, and unless you’re like me and will gladly let yourself out, it’s a waiting game.

Source: JGI/Jamie Grill / Getty

The Long Goodbye

This one is closely related to the previous behavior, and you probably see it a lot in your social media groups. Someone has crossed a line or failed to live up to their social media expectations, so our hero shares an eloquent and heartfelt final declaration so we can all be clear about what’s been done and why things have come to this. There may be elements of the misguided rant included in this thorough explanation of why the victim in this scenario has no choice but to part ways with their app of choice. The whole social media site gets a full understanding of how things got to this point and the struggle the person’s allegedly been put through to force such a hard and painful decision.

Source: Tim Robberts / Getty

Misinformation

I am always down for a good conspiracy theory or alternate viewpoint, but what I do not appreciate is false or misleading information. Fortunately, some social media platforms are starting to flag posts that contain questionable information and encouraging us to do our own follow-up fact-checking. Still, it’s better not to put the wrong information out there in the first place. If it’s your opinion, make that clear. Just remember that there are people who may respect your credibility and insight, so be responsible enough to live up to those expectations. Of course, we should all take responsibility for the information we consume and accept as fact, but it would help if we all did our part in not adding to the problem.

Source: Mango Productions / Getty

Atrocious Grammar and Spelling

I have always loved reading and was a repeat spelling bee champion throughout my childhood, so you can correctly conclude that words are my “thing.” People who frequently read are exposed to more words and vocabulary, so they are often good writers too.

I’m not so unrealistic and arrogant as to expect everyone to have perfect spelling and vocabulary skills. It’s just that in a world where we have technology literally in the palm of our hands, there is no excuse for not doing a grammar or spell check. We also need to stop posting things like “Sorry for your lost” (instead of “loss”) or confusing “your” with “you’re” even after all the work your poor English teacher put in so many years ago. Let’s do better in 2021.

Source: Boogich / Getty

Forgetting That Some of Us Do Know You Offline

Of course, nobody expects you to show the world your lowest, saddest, or ugliest moments. When you share pieces of you or a glimpse into your personal life, it’s understandable that you are showing us your best.

People seem to forget that some of your social media friends actually know you offline and have a strong reference point to compare your social media persona with reality. We don’t all rely on what you present to know who you are and what you’re about. This means some of us had a private chuckle on Christmas seeing you and your significant other in your brand new matching pajamas knowing you just told him his mama was ugly in front of the whole neighborhood the day before. We may also recognize you under those many filters you use for your photos.

Yes, social media is a carefully curated world, but let’s not stray too far from reality.

Source: skynesher / Getty

Asking Friends to Prove Their Decency

Yes, I love babies, and no, I don’t want to see animal abuse on my timeline. I want that poor lonely puppy to find his forever home. I also don’t support elder abuse. In other words, I am a decent, civilized human being with a perfectly functioning soul.

I should not have to prove this by clicking “like” on a post or copying and pasting it to my timeline. I did not come on social media to prove my humanity or publicly declare that I am not doing freelance work for satan or any other dark forces. No, I am not ashamed of my beliefs, and yes, I am proud I am a decent person. Just please don’t ask me to prove it.

Source: Tim Robberts / Getty

Being the true, stereotypical extrovert that I am, social media will continue to be a part of my daily life in 2021 and beyond. Let’s all work together to ensure that the Cyber World is the best place it can be for all of us.

Charasay Powell is an insightful writer who evokes a wealth of personal and professional experience to communicate with a wide range of audiences. She is a seasoned HR professional who has worked for top global organizations, governments, and small businesses before becoming an entrepreneur in 2019. Charasay is comfortable in virtually any setting, from a Southern family reunion to a Fortune 500 boardroom, and has developed a proven talent for connecting with people from all walks of life. She takes inspiration from wordsmiths, such as Zora Neale Hurston, Dr. Maya Angelou, and Langston Hughes. Her goal is to continue the proud legacy these and others writers have established.