Social Media Faux Pas: 10 Hilarious Mistakes That Even the Pros Make

social media

Hey there! Curie here, back again to spill the tea on something we all know too well: social media mistakes. But before that… Are you already feeling the holiday vibes? Because I AM and I’m off to enjoying it in a few hours (hooray)! Okay, back to the topic—guess what? Even the pros make them. Yep, you read that right. The people who’ve mastered Instagram algorithms, TikTok trends, and Twitter hashtags are still dropping the ball once in a while. Who knew, right?

So, grab your popcorn (or your phone, because who needs to leave social media when we’re talking about it?) and let’s dive into 10 social media faux pas that’ll have you laughing, cringing, and maybe even facepalming.

1. The ‘Reply All’ Disaster
Ah, the classic Reply All fails. You know, that moment when you reply to a message, but instead of sending it to just one person, you accidentally send it to the whole group. Oops!  A message meant for your bestie about how the boss’s new shirt is “questionable” ends up in the company chat. Well, at least the whole office now knows how you feel about fashion. 

2. Forgetting to Switch Accounts
This one’s a classic for anyone managing multiple accounts. You’re casually posting from your personal Instagram when—bam!—you accidentally share something work-related on your private account. Awkward. Who doesn’t love a “#CorporateLife” post during their brunch photos, right? 

3. Using the Wrong Hashtag
Hashtags are supposed to help you get discovered. But sometimes, we get a little too creative (or a little too tired) and end up using the wrong hashtag. “#ThrowbackThursday” for a photo from last month? Sure. But, uh, using “#BestVacationEver” on a post about your dentist appointment? Let’s just say that’s not the vibe you were going for. 

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4. Scheduling Posts at the Wrong Time
We all know that timing is everything. But sometimes, we’re in such a rush to schedule posts that we forget the time zone difference. Suddenly, your “Good Morning” post goes live at 2 AM. Who’s having coffee at that hour? Probably just you, scrolling through your notifications at 3 AM after the third episode of your Netflix binge. 

5. Posting Something You Thought Was Funny, But It’s Not
We’ve all seen that one post that’s just a little too niche. You know, the one where you thought your audience would totally get your inside joke, but instead, it lands like a dud at a comedy club. Crickets. Yeah, that joke about your pet iguana’s dance moves? Maybe save that one for the private group chat with your friends. 

6. Misspelling Your Brand’s Name
The horror!  It’s like misspelling “coffee” on your morning coffee order—except this is your brand’s name. Do you even know how many times a company has misspelled their own name on social media? So many times. Still don’t wanna break my record of never misspelling Melrish as.. MelRush or Melroooosh. In the rush to post something trendy, that typo is the last thing you need. But hey, at least you’ll get some extra attention, right? Maybe a few extra laughs (or facepalms).

7. Overusing Emojis
There’s a fine line between fun and overboard when it comes to emojis. A single smiley face? Perfect. A whole row of dancing monkeys, fire trucks, and sparkles? Hmm, maybe not. You want to keep things light, not give off “I accidentally opened the emoji keyboard and can’t stop pressing buttons” vibes. 

8. Ignoring DMs
We get it—your inbox is full (as it always seems to be), but completely ignoring DMs is a social media sin. Whether it’s a potential customer, an old friend, or a weird bot asking if you’ve seen their “amazing” collection of socks, answering your DMs can help you build connections. Don’t be the person who leaves people hanging.

social media
young woman with short curly hair in green t-shirt holding smartphone making defense gesture with other hand against her mobile looking displeased standing over orange background

9. Getting Too “Hashtag Happy”
We’ve all been there—when you add way too many hashtags to your post, thinking it’s the magic formula for more reach. “#MondayMotivation #SocialMediaPro #Let’sDoThis #GoodVibesOnly #FeelingCute #WorkHardPlayHarder…” Okay, we get it. You’ve got a lot to say. But maybe dial it down a little, or risk sounding like you’re trying too hard. #ChillOut 

10. Forgetting to Add a Call to Action
Ever posted something so awesome, only to get zero engagement? It’s not you—it’s your post’s lack of direction. A good call to action (CTA) is key! Whether it’s “Tag a friend who would love this!” or “What’s your opinion? Drop it in the comments,” a CTA gives people something to do besides scroll and scroll and scroll some more.

Wrap-Up: Own Your Mistakes and Laugh It Off

So there you have it—social media faux pas that even the pros make. But here’s the thing: It’s okay to make mistakes (our lady boss, Melon, also reminds us of this every time)! In fact, sometimes they’re what make social media feel more real and less robotic. So, the next time you mess up, laugh it off, learn from it, and maybe use it as material for your next post. Because if you can’t laugh at yourself, you’re missing out on the fun part of social media.

Until next time, keep posting, keep laughing, and definitely check your hashtags and slide on our DMS now if you need some help. 

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About Melrish

Melon here! My husband and I founded The MelRish Studio in 2009. I’m a photographer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, traveler, wife, mom, and a follower of Christ. This blog is my musings about our adventures, growing our team, the events and brand stories that we tell, and the lessons we learn along the way.

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