The New Social Media Crimes

Careful with the so-called "candid" shots.

As the selfie took on a bad reputation and Instagram models took off, we started seeing more and of these contrived and manufactured "in-the-moment" shots. You know them when you see them. The perfect framing, the clothing styled just so ... it's meant to look as though a mysterious photographer just happened to catch you sitting by yourself, gazing at the sun setting over Joshua Tree or perhaps enjoying a refreshing post-beach shower. When in reality, you had to convince your partner to snap several dozen photos from multiple angles before you were finally satisfied.

Are you using too many emojis?

We get it. They're funny and can communicate an idea in a succinct, visual way. But there's always one person who uses them—whether it's necessary or not. Or you're left wondering why they wrote out a sentence and put it in emoji form as well. Use them sparingly so the little guys retain their punch.

Beware the fitness humblebrag.

Maybe it's an image of you looking yoked in the gym's mirror or a shirtless locker room photo of you flexing. Maybe it's a check-in at the gym with a modern-day fitness mantra like "Eat. Sleep. Gym. Repeat." The point is, why are you sharing an image of your Sunday night food prep with a tagline like "eat clean and train dirty?" Is it really to motivate people? If you want to document your progress, that's fine. Either keep it private or when you do share it, do so with a dash of self-deprecation. That way, we can all appreciate it.

Go ahead and "unplug." Just stop talking about it.

Don't spend time posting (and boasting) about unplugging. The post reads, "Stepping away for a little bit. Time for some real world connection." But what it sounds like is "I'm really gonna do it. I'm deleting my profile for some tranquility and I'm not saying that I'm better than you, but let's face it, you're reading this and I'm off meditating somewhere." And then, inevitably, you come back, right? So just back off from posting, like ghosting from a party and enjoy the detachment. Then come back when you're ready without the fanfare.

Don't join every social media network and post the same shit on every platform.

Social media has certainly been blamed for a lot of FOMO. Which is perhaps why so many of us feel like we've got to jump onto the latest app. Are you obligated to try each and every social media that launches? No, not at all. Don't be afraid to try the ones you think you might enjoy. You might find one that's meaningful or useful. But you don't have to waste time editing, updating, posting, tagging and whatever else these things demand of you just to keep up. Because, like anything, if you're just going through the motions, you'll never get the results you want. And your friends and followers don't want a bunch of repeats while they check various apps.

Watch your spelling.

Social media is casual, but nothing ruins the point you're trying to make by misspelling a crucial word. Especially if you're tweeting some serious point or sharing an article (in hopes of getting that one relative to wake up and look at facts). A spelling error makes you look sloppy, or worse, stupid.

Avoid the slightly narcissistic birthday tribute.

Again, you know them as soon as you see them. When they're less about the person celebrating a birthday and more about their awesome, amazing and downright considerate friend who remembered to post a carefully chosen picture of themselves looking great (and the birthday boy looking less so). And for some reason, there's often way too many hashtags with these posts too.

No throwbacks to your recent vacation.

If you go on a fantastic trip somewhere gorgeous and exotic, by all means, share some of the beauty and post away. But when you get back, don't let a few weeks go by and start sharing #TBTs or #FBFs of your feet in the sand or your girl splashing through the surf. "I wanna go back," you'll post. Of course you do. We all do. But this just isn't cool bro.

Easy on the threads.

If you have too much to say in one tweet, then follow it up with a secondary tweet. Maybe even a third. It happens. And it speaks to the limitations of the format. But consider the medium with which you're communicating. No one came to Twitter to read a 13-part dissertation, dude.

Don't be a billboard.

Unless you're an #influencer thanking a brand for sending you free shoes (#sponsored #ad #FTCdontcomeafterme), you don't really need to tag the brands of what you're wearing in your photos. Want to share a pic of your new kicks? That's cool. But there's no need to caption the photo of the new sneakers you just bought with a some praying hands emoji and a "thanks @Adidas!" Unless you were paid to do it, that is.