Pluses and Minuses of Having a Social Media Presence

By Tate Basildon

Social media can either be an incredible resource—or an ongoing headache—subject to how, why, and where one uses it. For writers, cooks, podcasters, and creatives alike, having an online existence can open doors to audiences and build relationships. Yet it also has noise, burnout, and algorithmic enigma.

Here is a concise rundown of six top platforms’ advantages and disadvantages for guiding you on what to spend your energy on—and what to cut back on:

X (formerly Twitter)

• Ideal for rapid updates, breaking news, and awareness

• Ideal for reaching journalists, writers, and niche audiences

• Threads and hashtags enhance discoverability

• Quick and usually toxic

• Few options for styling long or detail-heavy content

• Without consistent activity, engagement can be unpredictable

Instagram

• Visual-centric—ideal for food, lifestyle, and design professionals

• Stories, Reels, and posts provide multiple means of connecting

• High branding potential

• The algorithm prefers video over static images

• Demands frequent posting and great images

• Restrictive link-sharing increases traffic-driving difficult

Threads

• Associated with Instagram, making it simpler to grow an audience if you’re active on it

• Cleaner, more organized version of X

• Ideal for short thoughts and community building

• Continues evolving, has no robust discovery and search capabilities

• Decreased user engagement in general

• Not universally accepted among all people

Facebook

• Groups represent strong niche communities

• Events and Pages can be employed for promotions

• Still in use today, particularly by mature audiences

• Organic reach is limited if paid advertising is not an option

• Disorganized interface with distractions

• Privacy concerns and trust issues remain

LinkedIn

• Professional network—for highlighting expertise and professional experience

• Best for thought leadership and business content

• High interaction on quality posts

• More formal—no need for informal tone

• Feeds come off as highly polished or “salesy”

• Limited applicability for creatives outside of professional niches

Reddit

• Communities based on shared interest

• Anonymity can promote honest interaction

• Best for feedback and niche visibility

• Not for self-aggrandisement unless carried out safely

• Can be harsh or excessively judgmental

• Requires time investment in establishing trust within subreddits

Substack

• Long-format content suitable for newsletters and serial writing

• Straightforward relationship with readers—no algorithmic gatekeepers

• Monetization opportunities through subscription

• Audience expansion relies greatly on outside promotion

• Not an experiment-based system

• Writing for oneself can feel like having a part-time job

Bottom Line

Social media is not for everyone. Select two or three platforms that suit your ambitions and personality—and let the others go with no apology. Whatever your aim is—to build an audience, sell something, or simply discover people who get it—the secret is being consistent, being truthful, and knowing when to shut off.