“How to delete Facebook and Instagram accounts permanently” has not only been trending on search engines like Google, but as a social media specialist my friends are also asking me directly. If that’s what you need, here you go!
But if you’re looking for the low down on the various platforms and advice on whether they’re right for your nonprofit or company, read on.
This week, when I was asked to put together my thoughts for a blog that we can point our clients to, I had flashbacks to grad school – but in a good way. I am excited to represent DARCI and promise I won’t be using APA format. My goal is to help you make informed and strategic decisions.
It’s no surprise if your head is spinning at the moment. Meta did a complete 180° on fact-checking and filtering for things like hate speech. What’s crazy to us is that they specifically allow sex- and gender-excluding language now. Many people are considering leaving–or have already shut down–their personal Facebook and Instagram accounts.
At DARCI, we have been fielding questions about whether Meta is the right place for our clients’ businesses. Ultimately, there is no one “right answer.” Social media is and has always been an “it’s complicated” relationship, but one we’ve come to rely on and expect certain things from. When those platforms change, it’s no wonder we consider breaking up. But like any long-term relationship, it’s important to really consider everything at stake.
Depending on which side of the fence your friends are on, you may be seeing goodbyes along with URLs ending in bsky.social. (We are on Bluesky by the way!) But having scoped it out, I think it’s probably not the most strategic place for businesses, because a) there are no analytics – yet, and b) it also doesn’t integrate with social media scheduling platforms – yet. Though I did submit a ticket to Loomly, which is our platform of choice for post scheduling. So, Bluesky is one we’re just lurking on for now. And of course it’s good to claim your username. You probably should too.
Threads is another newbie on the scene. If the Bluesky thing seems like a good alternative to X (more on that later), but like us, tracking results is an important part of your marketing strategy, Threads does have analytics. But it’s owned by Meta and users must have an Instagram account. We also have a presence on Threads but haven’t found it very engaging. To be fair, we just joined two months ago and haven’t spent much time on outward engagement, and like anything else, you get what you give.
I look at LinkedIn as my stable, level-headed big brother. He’s always there when I need him but occasionally surprises me by trying to stay hip. His latest thing is curling, and he even has the Loudmouth pants they wear in Norway. With LinkedIn it’s things like vertical video and joining the gamification trend happening elsewhere with their daily Tango puzzle. Have you tried it?
And what about X? The platform where we once went for news, or a quick response from airline customer service, has now become a political mine field. Whether you believe that Elon Musk did the “Hitler salute,” or was just being excitedly quirky and misinterpreting social norms, he *is* the owner of X. And he did do that thing with his hand, twice. We no longer have any clients using X.
TikTok is the kind of relationship that needs to never be left on read and requires daily communication, if not multiple posts a day, to really be effective. It also may or may not be around much longer. And they publicly thanked Trump for his help, so there’s that. Which leads to my next point…
What should you ask yourself (if you’re a solopreneur) or your leadership team if your company is on the fence about any social media platform?
- Do the platforms you’re on align with your values? How important is it that they align?
- To what extent can you tolerate a values-misalignment to meet your business and customers’ needs?
- How else are you communicating with your audience? How’s that email database doing? Do you have in-person or virtual events? What about texting?
- Are your alternative ways to communicate sufficiently built up?
- Is engagement currently good on the platforms you’re considering keeping?
- Do you have the time to put into establishing a presence and engaging your community on new platforms?
After careful consideration, if it IS time to jump ship, don’t just abruptly pull the plug. Come up with a reasonable exit strategy that respects everyone who follows you. Remember that you’re in a kind of relationship with each of your followers, and letting them know what’s up, what you’re thinking, and where you’re going, is so much better (and more strategic from a business standpoint) than ghosting.
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References worth reading:
- Meta, “More Speech and Fewer Mistakes”
- Human Rights Campaign, “Meta’s New Policies: How They Endanger LGBTQ+ Communities and Our Tips for Staying Safe Online”
- How to create a Bluesky account: https://support.bluesky.com/hc/en-us/articles/24779732343955-How-do-I-create-an-account-on-BlueSky-com
- Creating a profile on Threads: https://help.instagram.com/1747515265645443
- Compare platform user stats: https://explodingtopics.com/blog/x-user-stats
- Play Tango on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/games/tango
