If you arrived here because you’re terrible at social media—welcome! You’re in good company.
I’ve always hated social media—going all the way back to the days of MySpace. It’s always felt fake and gross to me. For instance, I never understood why people who were unkind to me in high school wanted to “friend” me on social media when they weren’t friendly in real life. I lost my taste for it even more during the pandemic, when voices were being shut down left and right—including my own.
Social media still feels fake to me, as always. But in an era of generic, AI-generated content, it looks like being “bad” and awkward at social media may finally work for people like us who genuinely hate it.
Here’s a look at why.
Social Media Feeds Are Drowning in Perfection (And People Are Tired of It)
The fake perfection and polished look on social media really bothers me—that’s one reason I dislike it so much. I know I’m not alone—the Internet in general is saturated in “perfection,” thanks to AI.
Examples of fake social media content:
- Staged “behind-the-scenes” media. Everyone knows certain scenarios are totally fake—like having a pristine kitchen after baking a massive amount of fancy cupcakes, or having a super organized workspace that looks like something out of a magazine.
- Humble brags, in any form. No one likes obvious attention-seeking or constant bragging. Period. All humble brags sound melodramatic and staged.
I’m sure you get the gist. In any case, “perfect” is a red flag. It’s just not authentic.
What Does It Mean to Be “Bad” at Social Media?
Being “bad” at social media means not following the rules. If you use social media, you likely know which rules I’m referring to.
Examples of how to suck at social media:
- Not posting consistently
- Not following or supporting trends
- Not using the latest social media lingo and acronyms
- Hating camera time
- Saying what you really think, instead of agreeing with the masses
This isn’t how I define being bad at social media. These are strengths, if you ask me.
Nobody wants to read generic content on social media that follows all these rules—that’s boring. People are craving content from entities and brands willing to bend these rules and stand out.
How Your Social Media “Flaws” Could Actually Work For You
AI tools have made the Internet predictable. More diversity would be nice—especially where opinions and values are concerned. Maybe people like you are exactly what social media needs more of.
Here’s why being bad at social media may actually be a good thing:
- Intermittent posting. Posting on a schedule can feel forced, and content comes out sounding lame. But posting when you want to feels more intentional and meaningful.
- Ignoring trends. Not following trends means more evergreen content—right? Trendy content has a short shelf life and becomes quickly outdated.
- Talking normally, like an adult. New trendy lingo and acronyms pop up on social media all the time. But not everyone enjoys Googling them to see what they mean, or wants to talk like a middle-schooler.
- Hating the camera. People can tell if you’re uncomfortable or don’t want to be filmed. Why not just do videos and photos when you feel like it, unscripted? The content you produce will be more genuine.
- Speaking your mind. Being yourself attracts others who agree with you, think like you, or who just connect with you, in general. Many times, this can lead to better and stronger “fits” between you and your audience.
Which “Bad” Habits Should You Keep?
Honestly, you should keep all of them. Here’s the “whys” behind doing so.
Posting Less Frequently (Quality Over Quantity)
Posting on a regular schedule for the sake of staying visible makes you predictable. It’s a great way to get tuned out by your audience.
But if you post only when you have something important to say, people will notice and they’ll listen.
Posting less shows that your time is valuable—and that you respect your audience’s time, too. When you do post, your audience will know it’s worth reading.
Skipping Trends You Don’t Like
Trends come and go. They expire at some point and they’re not timeless.
If you jump on trends just for the sake of keeping up with the Joneses, you might attract people who are interested in only the trend—not you. Plus, not all trends can be made relevant to your brand.
Trends are overrated. Just follow or adopt the trends that feel like you and skip the rest to attract the right people.
Writing In Your Actual Voice, Even If It’s a Bit Weird
Generic and polished writing may sound good to the ear, but nobody really connects with it. Especially if you’re an echo chamber on social media, jumping on the bandwagon to agree with everyone else.
Your specific quirks, references, and opinions are unique. They make you stand out. Someone who thinks like you will stop scrolling and think, “Whoa, this person gets it!”
The readers who resonate with your real voice could become your most loyal followers and your best clients. Why? Because they might feel like they know you just from reading your content and connecting with it.
Sharing Opinions, Not Just Tips
You know that dad-saying, “Opinions are like assholes—everyone’s got one.” That’s how I’ve always felt about social media. If I wanted your opinion, I’d ask.
Also, why does everyone on social media think everyone else wants to hear their opinions, about everything?
But you know what—I guess that’s the point of social media. It gives everyone a voice and a chance to be heard. So to excel at social media, you need to feel comfortable with doling out unsolicited opinions.
That’s my point here: Embrace and share your opinions, even if they’re unique. Focus more on opinions than tips, which are commonplace on social media and everywhere else these days.
Not only do opinions generate conversation, but they attract like-minded people, and repel those who disagree. That’s a good thing, because it helps narrow down your ideal audience—a true win-win situation for everyone. Your opinions may actually help others feel seen!
Conclusion: Bad Is the New Good (Kind Of)
For years, we’ve been told there’s a “right” way to do social media. Post consistently, follow trends, and don’t rock the boat.
But that all feels exhausting, fake, and ineffective. Maybe being “bad” at social media isn’t really bad at all.
If you’d rather skip the social media circus altogether and focus on content that actually lasts (like blogs, SEO, and evergreen content), that’s exactly what I help with. Reach out to me and let’s get started.
Last Updated on April 9, 2026 by Sarah Morris
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