Social Media: Rented Land Can Be Risky!

Facebook’s Rules: Building Community or Stifling It?

As a content creator and author, I’ve always believed in the power of social media to connect, engage, and grow communities. However, my own experiences with Facebook have left me both frustrated and disillusioned. The platform, which once seemed like fertile ground for cultivating relationships and sharing ideas, has now become a minefield of arbitrary rules and opaque policies. These so-called “community standards,” which are not clearly listed or explained anywhere, have turned what should be an empowering tool into a source of constant anxiety and unpredictability for many.

The Perplexing Rules of Social Media Engagement

When I first started using Facebook to promote my work and interact with readers, I embraced the platform’s encouragement to like and follow other pages. This seemed like a natural way to build a community. However, it didn’t take long before I found myself repeatedly slapped with warnings and suspensions for violating “community standards” that I couldn’t find detailed anywhere.

For instance, I once followed a series of pages related to my niche, hoping to connect with like-minded individuals and gather inspiration. Within hours, I received a notice that my account had been temporarily suspended for “suspicious activity.” I was bewildered. Wasn’t this what Facebook wanted me to do? To engage, to connect, to build?

A Lack of Transparency On Social Media

The most infuriating aspect of these penalties is the lack of transparency. Facebook never clearly explains which specific actions led to the suspension. Their vague explanations and the absence of a comprehensive list of rules make it impossible to know what to avoid in the future. It feels like playing a game where the rules are constantly changing and never fully disclosed.

Imagine a farmer and his family working tirelessly to cultivate a piece of land. They plant crops, nurture them, and look forward to the harvest. Suddenly, without warning or clear reason, the landowner steps in and says, “You’ve violated our rules,” and takes the land away. The farmer is left bewildered and devastated, with no idea what rule was broken or how to prevent it from happening again. This is exactly what it feels like to build a presence on Facebook.

The Illusion of Community Building

Facebook’s inconsistency extends beyond account suspensions. For example, I’ve seen posts and comments that are perfectly civil and within the bounds of respectful discourse get flagged and removed. On the other hand, genuinely harmful content often slips through the cracks, or is ignored by the Facebook police. This double standard makes it clear that Facebook’s enforcement of its community standards is not only opaque but also capricious.

Moreover, Facebook encourages users to create groups and pages to foster communities. But what’s the point when these communities can be dismantled at a moment’s notice? I’ve witnessed entire groups, built painstakingly over years, vanish overnight due to alleged violations that were never explained. The members of these groups, who had found a sense of belonging and shared purpose, are left adrift, their digital community razed to the ground.

Social Media: Building on Borrowed Land

Relying solely on Facebook to build your brand or community is akin to building a farm on land you don’t own. You can pour your heart, soul, and resources into it, but ultimately, you have no control over the ground beneath your feet. Facebook’s arbitrary enforcement of its rules can pull the rug out from under you at any moment, leaving you with nothing to show for your efforts.

As a content creator, this uncertainty is incredibly frustrating. I constantly wonder about whether my next post or comment will be the one that triggers another suspension. This nonsense stifles creativity and discourages genuine engagement for many people, which is precisely what Facebook claims to promote.

A Call to Action: Take Control of Your Platform

Given these frustrations, I urge my fellow creators and community builders to reconsider how much time and effort they invest in Facebook. Instead of relying solely on social media platforms that can take away everything you’ve built without warning, consider working just as hard on your own platforms. Connect with other creators on their platforms, newsletters, forums, etc. We have a newsletter list & have created a forum for people to use. We welcome you to engage with other people!

Here are some steps you can take to build a more secure and independent online presence:

1. Create Your Own Website or Blog: This is your digital home, where you set the rules. Use it as the primary hub for your content, and make sure it’s user-friendly and regularly updated.
2. Build an Email List: Unlike social media followers, an email list is something you own. Use it to keep your audience informed and engaged. Regular newsletters can help maintain a strong connection with your followers.
3. Diversify Your Social Media Presence: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Use multiple social media platforms to reach different audiences, but always direct traffic back to your website.
4. Engage in Community Building on Your Terms: Use forums, membership sites, and other tools to create spaces where you control the conversation and the rules.
5. Monetize Independently: Whether through Patreon, direct sales, or affiliate marketing, find ways to monetize your content that don’t rely solely on social media platforms.

Conclusion: Reclaim Your Efforts

In conclusion, while Facebook and other social media platforms can be valuable tools for reaching a wide audience, they come with significant risks and frustrations. Their arbitrary enforcement of ill-defined rules can undermine years of hard work in an instant. To truly safeguard your digital presence and the community you’ve worked so hard to build, it’s essential to invest in platforms and strategies that you control.

Don’t let your hard work be at the mercy of Facebook’s ever-changing whims. Reclaim your efforts, build on solid ground, and create a digital legacy that can’t be taken away by some faceless entity with shifting and inscrutable standards. It’s time to take control and ensure that the fruits of your labor are yours to keep.