Rejection on Social Media

My “friends” on Facebook and followers on instagram and twitter rarely like my posts despite the fact that I like theirs a lot to show support since we’re supposed to be friends. Someone even liked my post then they unliked it a few days later. I would be lucky if I get 10 likes on a post. They like each other’s posts and it shows in my feed. Some people get up to 100 likes on a picture they’re making a silly face in! I usually post a content of value like a piece of poetry, a funny meme or something that happened on the news but I get zero likes and comments! I sometimes update my status with an important thing that happened in my life and all I get are two likes. I even had some male friends who used to interact with me on Facebook but then unfriended me once they got a girlfriend. While other guys that I have on Facebook talk to me in real life but never like my posts or comment on them. I even posted a “happy birthday” on a friend’s page and he never liked it but he liked the rest of his friends’ well wishes. I was so embarrassed and felt very stupid when he ignored me like that. I’m so hurt because of all of this rejection. I even thought about deleting my Facebook account. I’ve been told by different people that I’m a very kind person with a nice personality and that I’m pretty, too. It’s not just one “friend or follower” who’s doing this to me, it’s most of them. Anyone has an idea why this is happening to me?

It could be algorithms? Have you posted anything that may have agitated the almighty zuck? :\

Good question! I don’t remember doing anything like that. I choose my posts carefully.

It is kind of tongue in cheek. At the same time, I checked mine today and saw posts from 2 days ago that weren't displaying 2 days ago. Much doesn't make sense.

I've noticed that those that have have the tighter privacy controls tend to have fewer responses, likes, etc. Those that are opened to friends of friends of friends have more. I'm on the lesser side of things. Some of my friends are networking for jobs, social groups, etc.

I guess I’ll check my privacy settings then. Thank you.

That's funny what you said about people getting tons of likes on a rando selfie. I'll get 30 likes on a selfie and then get little to no response on anything meaningful. I don't browse the fb feed or like posts or even get on more than every two months.. so I shouldn't expect anyone to like my stuff if I do happen to post. But your experience is different from that. I'm not sure why that's happening

I know! That’s just so weird.

Mostly people likecidiotic nonsense. Anything serious, or thoughtful...Either they don't get it or are annoyed at being brought out of their bubble.

Example. I post a cutsie picture of my rat sitting on my other rats head....a hundred likes.

I post a video about candy cane rescue, rescuing greyhounds from Chinese slaughterhouses. I get complaints that I have distressed people.

The shallower the content the better, it reflects the people liking them.

What a great insight you have! You’re right!

I’ve had the same issue with social media. But social media, by its very design, caters to those who want something quick. People want selfies, Insta-ready photos, pretty pretty shellacked photos and what basically amounts to not real life.

Erebos is right. To be very blunt, younger people tend to unfriend if there are too many memes, thought-provoking posts, or statuses that they have to read (as opposed to a photo). I’ve heard coworkers talk about it: “I really like her, but I don’t like her statuses.” People have done it to me. I don’t get why people don’t just unfollow, but whatever. Anyway, my FB posts tend to be political and no one likes that, haha.

I really don’t think it’s something super personal, though it is hard not to take it personally. I assume you are younger than I am though, and this is something which is important to you. Maybe check out some other Instagrammers (larger ones) and see how they arrange their posts? I don’t know how to help, there... I decided I didn’t care about response, and that I’d post what I wanted. And I do go on social media breaks very frequently.

I agree. And I also think it’s a good idea that you take frequent breaks from social media because what’s making me so upset is spending most of my time on social media. It’s so easy to do this now with apps for everything on our phones.

I am just going to throw this out there. What is the nature of these friendships and why does this matter to you? Are these real life friends? Are these other peoples' responses gravitating towards people they actually know? I only make birthday wishes for example to people that are really close to me and it occurs to me that my 'likes' gravitate towards them too. Is it possible that you are speaking about people you don't know in real life? If in fact this is about people you don't actually know I suggest that your reaction might best reflect this.

I’m talking here about people that I know in real life. I wouldn’t accept a friend request from someone I don’t know.