Social media is both a boon and a curse. On one hand, the world has become a smaller place, with global outreach made possible by posting on social media. But on the other hand, it’s also a dangerously strong habit to form and even more difficult to shake off once you get hooked. You must also pay attention to what you’re posting, especially when something is viral or trending. Here are five common social media mistakes to avoid consciously.

Using every app and platform
Teens and older adults spend a couple of hours on average using apps like Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, among the popular favorites. But one of the biggest social media mistakes is having an account on every platform. Remember, the number of accounts you use is directly proportional to the time spent on them daily. More accounts, more time spent from posting to replying and managing your profile. It’s a time-draining process and can be detrimental to cognitive health and psychological well-being. Deactivate your accounts from apps you don’t use actively to save time and effort. Divert your energy to do something productive.

Posting about personal things
Some things need to be kept out of the social worldview to ensure there is no misinformation or negative impact on your posts. It is never a good idea to post about personal matters that pertain to relationships, family, and close friends. Even if there are forums and platforms commenting on topics that gain virality on social media, it’s best to avoid posting anything that can trigger a controversial debate. Think carefully before posting something, and use your discretion.

Uploading the same content across platforms
If you use more than a few apps for promotional purposes, ensure you post unique content on each platform. Don’t simply recycle the reel from your Instagram feed and post it for YouTube shorts as well. Avid followers pay attention and will post critical feedback if they notice slacking. Remember, unique content helps improve virality and keeps users engaged. This applies to your personal accounts, creator accounts, and even business accounts on apps like Instagram. Even if you are cross-posting some of the content already used on one app, re-edit the original using the other app’s features so it’s not just another repeated post.

Not updating the apps
It is always a good idea to keep your apps up to date. Companies roll out new features with each update, and some of these rollouts are essential for improving app security. Don’t use apps excessively without updating them. You will miss out on a number of features that might come in extremely handy for personal and promotional purposes. For example, social media marketing is one of the best ways to create brand awareness and do an outreach program to engage with your target audience. Updated apps let you use new and innovative features for making reels and posts and using templates to generate engaging content.

Focusing on quantity uploads
Content connoisseurs want quality original reels, shorts, and posts. So don’t just flood your timeline with back-to-back posts without paying attention to the quality. Focus on making engaging content regularly and uploading it on a planned schedule. This way, your posts will get more engagement as users will log in around that time to check out the latest content.