It happens pretty often. Someone will post a good amount of pictures and posts on social media, only to delete them later. A user could have 250 Instagram photos and the next day have just 30 pictures remaining. Why do we have the the urge to mass delete our posts on social media?
Very few are immune to the urge to delete. Sometimes I’ll look at old posts or pictures and get the impulse to “clean up” so to speak. But later I ask myself why I did that. If social media is supposed to reflect our individual personalities, shouldn’t we skip filtering, editing, and deleting our posts?
It’s a natural inclination for us to try and post information that makes us look good. We may post about a new job or milestone we’ve earned. Often times though, social media doesn’t reflect our lowest points. We tend to only focus on what presents us in the best way. In many cases, mass deleting works to clean up our online image. This is a common goal, especially since anyone can access our social media accounts. However, we should use some rules when mass deleting. They may help us avoid regret after impulse deletes.
In order to avoid frequent mass deletions on social media, here are a few steps to follow when logging in:
- Post with purpose. Sometimes we’ll post for the sake of posting. However, these pictures (sometimes of a meal or pile of homework) are often the first to be deleted. That’s not to say that every picture has to be a work of art. It just means to feel good about what we post when we post it. If we follow this first step, we’ll avoid mass deletion.
- Consider why we’re mass deleting. Are we deleting because we’re comparing ourselves to someone else on Facebook or Instagram? Or perhaps we’re feeling a moment of insecurity? While considering this, we should put down our phone or laptop to see if the feeling fades. If it continues, then proceed with deleting posts.
- Delete photos that say the same thing. If we’re in the mood to delete, we should see how many of our photos repeat themselves. Did we post four pictures of mugs of coffee? Or how about similar pictures of our morning run? It’s okay to get rid of a few of these, especially since they express the same idea.
- Embrace our identities. Each social media account should reflect the unique traits of its owner. We should feel confident about what we post and show pride in the work we do. Mass deleting is easy, but keeping up our unique and quirky photos shows our confidence.
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Have you ever mass deleted posts on social media? What do you do when the urge strikes?
About the Author
Molly is a graduate student at UGA studying mass communication and public relations. Her interests include social media, marketing research, traveling, writing, and networking.
Website: www.mollykateberg.com