Say Goodbye to Trolls!

As a business using social media, you are bound to come across someone in your comment section who is simply out to ruin the fun for everyone else.

Social media has become a popular place for people to spread misinformation and bad vibes, so it is extremely important to know when to hide, delete or block negative activity.

Nearly everyone has a social media account these days and people use them for all sorts of different things. For the most part, everyday users spend their time watching videos, interacting with family & friends, or following their favourite brands and businesses for updates. But there are some users who just enjoy looking for an opportunity to spread negativity.

In Christopher Nolan's Batman flick, The Dark Knight, Alfred says to Bruce Wayne "some men just want to watch the world burn." Now, he may have been referring to The Joker in this particular instance, but we think this quote applies perfectly to the world of social media users.

So, when should you hide, delete, or block?

Before we jump into that, it is important to remember that some negative comments or feedback might actually warrant a response from you. If there is an opportunity to politely correct a misinformed user, then it doesn’t hurt to inject yourself into the conversation if another fan or follower hasn't already done so. Other times, it is likely best to hide or delete, and move on with your day.

At Wave Farm, we often prefer hiding comments vs deleting them. When you hide someone’s comment, their unpleasant post can only be seen by the person who wrote it and his or her friends. They’ll have absolutely no idea the post has been hidden! When nobody is replying or interacting with their nasty opinions, they will likely take their search for attention elsewhere. If you decide to circle back on your decision, you can unhide the comment at anytime.

Deleting a comment will completely wipe it from existence. You, the user who made the comment and everyone else who might have engaged with your content, will be able to see that it has been erased. We suggest this option when there have been threats, vulgar language, or inappropriate photos added into the mix. The problem you will often find with deleting a comment, is that once a user notices you’ve removed their input, it is very likely they will return for more.

Now, if you find that someone just won't give up, or is harassing/threatening you or your page's followers, then banning them from interacting with your platform altogether might be the necessary next step.

Ultimately, it is up to you to determine your protocol for hiding, deleting and blocking negative activity. We sincerely hope this information comes in handy the next time you and your business face off with a social media troll.