You're Driving me NUTS!!
I used to think that my little brother was the MOST annoying thing on earth. Then I grew up and realized just how wrong I was. So this post is just a wee bit ranty, but I have to note that some of these points were contributed. That said, I’m not the only one bitching here 
. Below is a collection of things that I, and others find annoying in social media:
All that aside, I still love my little brother. If you do any of these things please know that this is not a personal attack. Just a wee rant. Social media is an opt-in environment and I always have the option of blocking/unfollowing/unfriending you if it gets to be too much. If I haven’t done that I must be willing to over look your signal to noise ratio because, like my little brother, I love you. Well love might be a little strong in some cases, but you know what I mean. If you have other annoyances that didn’t get included please leave them in the comments!
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Good job Kristy.
Realted to Point #3 – The emphasis on a high number of followers is a dangerous one. I dislike that people use this as a correlation for a perceived higher value. Communication, based on relationships, is most effective when the information flows in both directions. It just isn’t possible to have good communication with 50,000 people. With numbers that high, that’s a model for disseminating information NOT communication. People mistakenly mix these 2 ideas, and think of them as one.
Related to Point #9 – People have this idea in their head that if they update their profile text to say Social Media Expert, then they are one. False! Like anything else, an expert has a mastery of the domain knowledge, which comes from years of exploration, knowledge acquisition, and development within the domain. You’re not an expert just because you use Twitter too much when you should be working, and possession of a Facebook account. The idea of social media is still very new, and nebulously defined. Given that, nobody can really claim to be an expert.
Related to Point #10 – People are way over-hyping Social Media. They’re treating like it’s the 2nd coming. It’s not! It’s another marketing/communications channel over a variety of website applications and social networks. Whether you’re using it for business or pleasure, you’re still building a brand. Jack Dorsey (@jack) the Inventor, Founder, and Chairman of Twitter had this to say about Twitter: “Twitter succeeds when it’s not talked about so much, blurs into the background, & is used as a utility. Like electricity.” — http://twitter.com/jack/status/1587314254 I think this idea can be applied to most social networks.
I think the auto-dm and bastardization of followfriday are my biggest right now.
@Andrew Woods
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I Really like what you said about #10 (and kudos for counting them – I probably should have numbered them
I’ve often wondered if by over-hyping social media it has caused a bubble. Bubbles eventually burst. Or if it is indeed something that will simmer down and eventually fully integrate into everyone’s lives.
Great post, Kristy. I especially agree with your first couple points. I love the “Thanks for the follow! If you need to get a hold of me, just @ me” emails. Without those, I don’t know how I would have ever figured Twitter out.
Another one for you: Celebrities getting on Twitter just because it’s the “cool” thing right now, gaining tons of followers, and then posting their thoughts on the weather, or something else just as ridiculous.
You missed one I really hate. Linking to a scam site (even if you don’t know it’s a scam) or linking to a really crappy website.
I run a twitter account and website that does nothing but make fun of “gurus, experts, and Social Media Marketers.” I think I have touched on all of your annoyances.
Check out @SMmonkey and puppypotpie.com if you like.
Kristy!!
Thanks for a great post. I enjoyed reading this beautiful list of gripes. Heh, heh… you know, I’m annoyed by people who try to sell me stuff without doing any research.
One time, I got a dm that offered fantastic pricing on a complete accounting system for new and used automotive dealerships. I’m all like, WTF? I’m a filmmaker.
Oh, and my other gripe might be a good topic for another session… My biggest social media pet peeve is a question really… **why are there no witty spammers?**
Namasté, @kimsherrell
@Christopher
I did indeed miss that one! Also…I was ROFLMAO reading your site http://www.puppypotpie.com Seriously, that’s awesome! But only 86% so
@KimSherrell
I’ve often wondered that myself. I mean, we have so much fun making fun of them. Now, if they could just get a clue and get in on the fun while spamming, they’d learn that we’d start to enjoy getting their CRAP
Those are all peeves of mine, but here are a few more:
1) Broadcasting how many followers you have and asking for more, e.g.,”Whoohoo, I’m at 11,990! Ten more will push me to 12,000! Please RT!”
2) Broadcasting the above for one of your friends. “@myfriend needs more followers. He’s only at 600…”.
3) Continuous celebrity ass kissing in the hopes of being mentioned in the celeb’s stream.
4) People who are so worried about the numbers game that they let everybody follow them…and then bitch about spammers on Twitter. You’re part of the problem, people. If the spammers didn’t GET followers, there would be fewer of them.
5) Non-celebrity people who don’t respond to tweets, even @ replies. It makes you look like an asshole, and it makes those who took the time to respond to something you said less likely to in the future.
6) People who do little but Tweet their own site, hour after hour, day after day.
7) The Blip.fm thing. I have music — I don’t need you to post song after song. On occasion, yeah okay, but constantly? Stop it!
9) People who don’t try to understand Twitter at all and months later are saying “I don’t know how to DM”. It’s not cute past the age of five.
10) People like me who think there are rules for these things — or that there should be, and they should be mine.
Definite omission was “Celebrities who hump social media and then send it back to its cage pregnant w/ with their 1 million abandoned followers”. Like my t.v. doesn’t puke out enough celebrities already that i need them on twitter.
Mucromente @outpost54
@outpost54 and @JD
You both have me cracking up. Yes, those were definite omissions on my part. Thank you for adding those points here in the feedback. Now, if I could just get some of those celebrities to read this blog post we’d be in business
@JD Those are hilarious! It really comes down to communication, whether it be online or in person.
Would you say to someone in person, “I have 199 friends that are coming to my party! If you come, I’ll have 200.” –Really?
Another pet peeve of mine is when people tweet so many things that it’s overwhelming. Maybe one thing they posted interested me, but there’s so much useless crap that I can’t stand to see their avatar anymore.
Another one is unnecessary language. It’s a salt to my eyes, and just plain inappropriate. There are better ways to express emotions…by emoticons!
What, you don’t think that having people follow / unfollow / follow / unfollow you makes you feel important and special?
These are great…all very true. One more to add is the constant “what I’m doing…” updates. I really don’t care that you “can’t decide what to eat for lunch”. Maybe if you’re a celebrity I’ll let a few of these updates slide by, but I think the whole concept of Twitter is really strong when everyone is adding value to the community. Sharing sites, tips, etc. or even just helping people crack a smile are great uses. The status updates really do the opposite as far as I’m concerned.
I hate the auto DM thing?
Hi Kristy. A great list (and lots of other good ones in the comments too).
For the #followfriday concern, Seth Simonds has started an interesting idea of linking 7 people in different categories on his blog. He has a short bio and links to their Twitter ID’s and blogs (if they have them). I may be biased because I was in this past weeks list 8=) but I think it is a really good idea. It’s at http://sethsimonds.com/connected-communities-episode-2/ if you want to check it out.
I plan to start doing this too. It won’t work for everyone and it slows things down a bit, but it sure is better than the endless lists of Twitter ID’s.
Great post and comments, etiquette of SM needs to be talked about in mainstream more. To add to your list, People who tweet only links(and sometimes several right in a row in one day!) without their own thoughts/input. I can only click on so many links in a day. How about just tell me what u r doing/thinking, that’s good enough most of the time.
wow…this horse very cute .ahhhhh
Excellent article! Very well said. Here’s a quick tip I learn from @unmarketing for #followfriday. With every suggestion you make for follow friday, do one and add a reason why this person is worth following. For example, “@kristy for #followfriday because she really knows social media and write excellent tips.”
By the way, I love the one on autofollow/follow-backs. Follow-fanatics are my biggest pet peeve, and I’ve blogged about it several times. Here’s the link (please delete it if it’s inappropriate for your blog):
http://www.michelfortin.com/autofollow-fiasco/
Anyway, please keep up the great work. Love your stuff.
How about people that retweet without first checking the link? Why are you retweeting in the first place — just to kiss someone’s ass or actually pass forward something valuable?
Loved the post. Thanks!
Thanks, Kristy. Your post is really helpful to this SM newbie. I joined up less than a month ago thinking that it’d be a great way to expand my network – so necessary to snagging a job. While I’ve gotten some great ideas and really helpful info, I’m frustrated there’s so much self-promotion going on. I mean hell yeah promotion’s a good thing, but much of it is so tiring and way too time-consuming filtering thru it all to find the good stuff. Now I’m off to unfollow some of the offenders …
Spot on! I have to add one: Don’t create a twitter account sans avatar, tweet “trying out twitter”, then proceed to follow 643 people on your first day. Take a little time to establish your brand: At least put up a profile pic and a few tweets–otherwise, when I check out your profile to see if I want to follow you back, and see no pic and no tweets, I will not follow you and probably forget about you forever.
Hello Kristy,
You echo my sentiments on many points, particularly the way that followfriday is being used. People really don’t see how this is sabotaging their Twitter experience. I was inspired by @sethsimonds and I wrote a post about this where I suggest a better way for community building recommendations. You might like it http://andrewmueller.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/followfriday-is-unsustainable-and-is-sabotaging-your-twitter-experience/#comment-120
Thanks again for helping bring awareness to the twitter masses
Andrew
One of my growing pet peeves are people tweeting that they are going to bed. I mean, really, who gives a damn?
Oh and people that get afflicted with tweeterhea – the urge post and post and post everything itty bitty little thing.
I recently unfollowed someone who posted like fifteen posts, all working up to an ad pitch. Sorry, I’m not your sales target, dude.
And, last one, this isn’t Twitter specific but more outside of Twitter. When are comment engines going to allow people to enter their Twitter handle instead of or in addition to email? Seems to make sense to me.
I’m @fenriq and I approve this message.
Gurus, rock stars, mavens, experts, please, all of them need to go away. Whatever happened to humble modesty? Or even self-depreciation? I’d rather hear about something these posers don’t know and figure out a solution than see a twitter feed on how awesome he/she is.
This is why Twitter needs to “up” the email notification a bit. I want to see a bio and the last 5-10 tweets, not just the number of followers. This isn’t a popularity contest. A “grade” of some sort wouldn’t be so bad either. Or maybe following/followers in common, you know?
BTW, Kristy, you are awesome. I heart ponies. I still have my plastic horse collection somewhere. You know, Misty and all that.
There is def. some etiquette that many forget to apply when using the social media tools. I think many don’t know how to use it when they first start so they try ridiculous approaches. over time they mold into a more quality approach.
Thought of an annoying habit, just now …
#overt #use #of #hashtags
#pleasestopitslame
So many great comments!
I agree with most all of them.
And @monicawright…..High five right back atcha!!! Ponies are indeed teh awesome!
@Lesley…good for you! The whole point of Twitter is to follow people that you enjoy or find value in for some reason. Don’t ever feel bad for unfollowing someone for cluttering your twitter stream. It’s your stream and can fill it with whomever you want
I’m fairly new to the twitter forum, but what good advice. I was starting to think, perhaps, I just didn’t get the point!? “Good manners” always apply in every venue. Feeling “used & abused” nevers leaves a good taste…jj
It’s mostly all been said but I would like to add the use of Twitter Slang – prefixing words with ‘Tw’ before the first vowel like “Morning tweeps”, “Laterz tweeple”. Don’t do it! It makes you sound like a two-year-old kid with a speech impediment.
LOL! I was starting to consider @sethsimonds a spammer! it is good to know that he isnt.
Seriously, I really enjoyed this post. I learn from the NOT TO DOs as well as from the WHAT TO DO s
I toast this post! Bravo on the content and the sentiment. In fact, I arrived here from a tweet – the kind that I value and the reason I use Twitter.
Lately, I’ve been noticing some people stop following me after I have a two tweet discussion with someone.
I give them really great websites every day and they unfollow me for something as trivial as that? It doesn’t make any sense.
@ChrisGray My take has always been, that I will use social media platforms in a way that suits me best. If someone is going to unfollow you because you have a two-tweet interaction with another party then that’s really their problem. Honestly though, they could be unfollowing you for any number of reasons. Playing the follow/unfollow/follow game is quite common. They could have followed you just in an effort to get you to follow them back. They don’t have any actual interest in your content anyway. Not sure that that is whats going on, but definitely don’t take it personal. Keep using the service in a way to benefits you, and let others follow/unfollow as they will.
The follow/unfollow/follow in hopes I’ll follow back thing on Twitter REALLY annoys me, including those who follow and then if you decide to follow them back, they unfollow and the cycle repeats itself. UGH!
I also agree with what was stated by someone else above me: a little bit of manners goes a LONG way in social media, definitely!
Great post, loved this!
@Stephanie Manners are definitely under-rated! The follow/unfollow/follow is definitely one thats been overplayed on Twitter. It’s all in a desperate attempt to gain more followers.
While I understand why people value the number of followers on Twitter as value, I’ll never understand why some feel like ‘gamed’ followers are still valuable. If people are not listening then they are not valuable. That game is obnoxious to say the least!
agree.
this quantity thing is a pain…
What a relief to find out that there are so many of you that feel the same way as I have about this.
I like your list and agree with all your peeves. [They make horrible pets however.] Regarding the follow/unfollow/…. issue. Perhaps some are hoping you follow back… the majority do it for one of two reasons. The most common one is if you are someone they have identified as in their ‘market’ every time they follow you they are on your most recent page of followers, page one. As other people follow you they move to page 2, 3 etc. There are other people actively following your followers too and they start on page one and may make it to page four or five but then move on to ‘fresher’ prey at some point. The folks who unfollow and then refollow are now back on your page one of followers ready to be followed by the people who are following your followers. There are likely apps that do this for people.. [What good is social media if you are just a robot?] The other less likely reason is there are people who follow the maximum number of people they can follow each day. At some point they have to unfollow people allowing them to follow more. If you keep your followers and unfollow all unfollowers except for the last 2 or 3 days the easiest way to keep order is to plug in a dozen or so people who do not follow you back. If you want 3 days for unfollowers to remove you have 3 groups of people who never follow you back but who may have something to say you like or have followers who may follow you when you are on the first couple pages of followers. There is a way to stop this of course. Block them and they cannot follow you.
The Twitter party has few rules. Follow who you want. Some people reciprocate and some don’t. Unfollow who you want. If you provide value you will attract people. Those who reciprocate have more followers generally than those who limit the number they personally follow. If you are famous and are a ‘star’ of one kind or another that will work. For the rest of us twitter is a place to hang out during periods of the day. You will attract who you are.
Fantabulous list. Spammers have creeped into #followfriday. Lot of mixed reviews on the “Thanks for the follow” DM, but I prefer to skip that as it increases email clutter.
Kristy,
This is spoken like a true social media fanatic.
Gr8 post and I certainly agree with all your points. These are truly annoying
Fanatic indeed
#FollowFriday sucks most of the time. That’s why I’m starting #unfollowsaturday AAAANNNNNNDDDDD a good night to all.
Thanks for that one, brilliant!
Even though I tend to agree with most of the points you make, I’m a little opposed to such rants. Take the auto dm for example: there are easy ways to opt out or you can just set up some filter in your e-mail program. Arguing that “auto dms killed the usability of your inbox” is basically just saying “I don’t know how to deal with my inbox”. I don’t think that *all* tweepers are going to listen to you, so I think adjustment on a personal level (which is really easy to do btw) is the better – and less frustrating – way.
Great post! Especially the constant ‘pls RT’ on Twtter, when the original Tweet isn’t worth reading once, never mind passing on!
Also:
- people who send me direct msgs telling me how to get 16,000 Twitter followers in theblink of an eye – but only have 6 followers themselves
- people who leave their drive by spam on Facebook fan / group / business pages (especially business competitors)
- people who submit everything they ever produce to Sphinn – whether it’s worth it or not
- I could go on but I’d be in danger of ranting too
Fab post, have passed it around!
Good post. Reminds me a lot of one i made on the same topic…http://mikefrizzi.com/blog/?p=192
I like your pony!
@Kristy
I have come to realize that. An unfollow could be the result of a number of things. The follow/unfollow reason is one. They are cleaning out who is not following them. That could be another. Make a split second decision that they don’t want to follow you anymore, etc.
It really doesn’t matter though, in the long run. Making good quality connections is all that I care about. That’s what really matters.
@ritchie I’m not going to respond to the part of your comment that felt disrespectful. I am fully capable of managing my own inbox. The reason that was included was because on one of my accounts, I get so many auto-dm’s that it renders the inbox useless. I have in fact, personally adjusted by not using it any longer. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment even if you disagreed with me