With the recent news that X/Twitter is looking to charge all users a monthly fee; therefore, putting every single account behind a paywall, once again people are looking to recalibrate their social media strategy. Numerous Twitter competitors have popped up, though none are without their problems from the data and privacy breach of Threads, which won’t allow you to delete your account without removing your Instagram account, to the issues surrounding Mastodon moderation, and Bluesky’s content policies and the fact that it was started by someone who had a founding interest in Twitter, so who is to say this all won’t happen again.
All of this leaves you wondering, how do you know which social media platform to use?
There are several ways to look at this. Traditional marketing advice says to go where your readers are. This may mean talking to other authors about where they’re at and how they use social media.
I also propose that you should find the platforms which work best with your style. Are you more comfortable sharing pictures or video, or do you prefer long form text? Pay attention to which social media platforms impact your mental health, for good or bad. I’m hearing many people say that as they moved away from Twitter they found their mental health improving, and I’m now seeing people taking breaks from Facebook, too.
I think it’s also important to know that you don’t have to be everywhere all the time. Pick a platform or two that works best for your style. Focus there. Ensure that you’re comfortable where you’re posting.
I can’t tell you which social media platforms work best for you. I prefer Mastodon, for example, with Facebook as my backup. What works for me may not work for you. Importantly, be willing to experiment, to be open to new ideas, and to make changes with your social media strategy. Platforms are going to change, and social media platforms will do whatever works best for them–not you. Which is why, no matter where you post, ensure that you also have your own platform (website) that you have complete control over.
