Published July 2024.
What to do when you accidentally shared a post to your socials.
Don’t stress, this happens more often than you think.
It’s the weekend, and you slept in after a fun night with friends. You finally wake up ready to seize the day and roll over to check your phone. Your eyes widen when you see you were flooded with texts from friends and family asking if you meant to share a post to your Instagram.
It turns out you posted a photo you didn’t mean to. While this situation is embarrassing, it happens frequently.
Here’s what to do next:
1. Delete, delete, delete.
While it’s true that nothing on the internet truly never goes away, it’s best to delete the post ASAP. The quicker you wipe the post, the fewer more people will see it.
Not sure how to wipe if from the web? Many social media apps have a help center to guide you through the process: Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.
2. Apologize when needed.
While you may have just posted an embarrassing photo, there are many cases where something offensive or hurtful is accidentally, or regrettably, posted.
If this is the case, it’s best to fight the urge to defend why you posted it.
Instead, post an apology that’s connected to the context of your original post. It’s always better to take accountability and move forward, rather than go ghost.
👍 Pro-tip: Keep your apology simple and to the point.
3. For the future.
Double-check before you post or send anything.
Trust us, we get that it’s easy to accidentally share something to your Snapchat story when you think you are just sending a snap to a friend.
Lastly, think before hitting post. The moment you click share; it’s forever part of your digital footprint. Think to yourself: Will this post hurt anyone? What is the intent of the post?
Social media is a powerful tool. Being mindful and slowing down before you hit post can help you avoid an awkward conversation or two.
