How to Avoid Giving People Your Socials: Silly and Sensible Tips From the Geniuses of Twitter

Author image for Ada Elder
Ada Elder
Feb 9, 2023 3:00 PM EST

As a geriatric millennial, I can remember a time when you added every single person you met on social media. Briefly introduced to someone new at a frat party? Added on Facebook. Take a pic with someone at the boat rave? Added on Facebook and Instagram. You get the idea. These days, influencers aside, people seem to be more discerning about sharing their accounts with others. Some even have "finstas" and "rinstas" to keep some of their content within their intimate social circles. 

Being more choosy about who you share your selfies and food pics with comes with one annoying dilemma: how to avoid giving your info to people you don't want to share it with. For example, my mother-in-law. She is obsessed with social media and is constantly prying to see if she can become my "friend" on Instagram. On her birthday, I finally added her on Facebook, without telling her that I only use it for work. She was thrilled. Unfortunately, not everyone has a dummy account with which to placate people. Some people get flustered and stammer when trying to find the right response to "What's your Insta?" 

Twitter user @gremlita turned to the bird app for help with this exact dilemma, asking followers (and non-followers) to share best practices for when you do not want people to see your socials. While many people responded with jokey answers, there were some valuable tips in the mix, tips that we'll definitely be utilizing in the near future. 

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  • 01
    Font - mina le @gremlita i need the etiquette tip for if you dont want to share your social media details with someone who asks you for it 9:29 AM 2/7/23 2.4M Views ● 41.6K Likes 2,214 Retweets 1,262 Quotes
    via gremlita
  • 02
    Font - amy et al. @peachofababy Tell them you only use it to promote your essential oil business and ask if they're interested in becoming an associate 8:42 AM 2/8/23 16.1K Views ● 462 Likes 13 Retweets 4 Quotes
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  • 03
    Font - jess @mistortewdee "I don't have a phone." Bonus points if you're on your phone as you say it. 9:44 AM 2/7/23 218K Views ● 14.8K Likes 364 Retweets 37 Quotes
    via gremlita
  • 04
    Font - Hellvetika @PanderShirts my religion doesn't allow social media 9:31 AM 2/7/23 160K Views . 3,111 Likes 88 Retweets 14 Quotes
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  • 05
    Font - Lorne @lorne_loo "oh i've been banned from them all permanently" 12:05 PM 2/7/23 · 177K Views . 9,190 Likes 155 Retweets 7 Quotes
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  • 06
    Font - gian tối 2 LAS @gianprogress "i appreciate that you want to give me a follow, but unfortunately i prefer to keep my circle online really small / only close friends" 9:49 PM 2/7/23 99.7K Views ● 2,389 Likes 40 Retweets 8 Quotes
    via gremlita
  • 07
    Font - reme @remetorrico "i just share it with my close friends and family " 9:40 AM 2/7/23 138K Views ● 2,881 Likes 21 Retweets 5 Quotes
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  • 08
    Font - ooga booga @lotusbetch i deny the existence of my accounts personally 10:05 AM - 2/7/23 149K Views 4,513 Likes 72 Retweets 3 Quotes
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  • 09
    Font - Mila @NPLTO8 I usually like to use "no". Solves it every time. 10:18 AM 2/8/23 · 21.7K Views 135 Likes ●
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  • 10
    Font - baby @_monqi_ My friend once said she can't remember how to spell her name and I think that's incredible 6:45 PM 2/7/23 65.9K Views 3,434 Likes 25 Retweets 3 Quotes
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  • 11
    Font - Pretty like a dream @kihyakihya_ Y'all are in the comments saying you give all of these different excuses, and that's crazy to me because y'all need to learn how to simply say no. It's ok to say no and offer no explanation on top of it. 12:06 AM 2/8/23 · 16K Views ● X 86 Likes 2 Quotes
    via gremlita
  • 12
    Font - Curry Munching Whore @sasgay02 "I'm on a social media break and I temporarily deleted it" and if that somehow doesn't work give it to them and block them right after 10:08 AM 2/7/23 60.4K Views ● 2,505 Likes 31 Retweets 2 Quotes
    via gremlita
  • 13
    Font - I always say it's deactivated but lemme get yours for when I reactive. really it's just so I can creep on them in peace. sometimes I just tell people no and explain no one I know personally follows me. ΛΛ Meg's Whore @thot_bucket - 12:51 AM 2/8/23 71.2K Views ● 596 Likes 15 Retweets 4 Quotes
    via gremlita
  • 14
    Font - Lady K @Coppertopmpls I tell them I have an anonymous account for personal reasons, but thank them for their interest (unless they are being a creep, then no thank you) 9:32 AM 2/7/23 83K Views ● 2,357 Likes 18 Retweets 2 Quotes
    via gremlita
  • 15
    Font - lia @maisonalia I just add them on Snapchat but have them scan your code so you dont have to add them back and they dont have your username 1:06 PM 2/7/23 51.9K Views . 142 Likes 4 Retweets 1 Quote
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  • 16
    Font - (still breathing up all the yt man's air) @dagherisms 'Oh no thank you,' but then you have to start talking about something else really fast to throw them off 11:55 PM - 2/7/23 26.9K Views 219 Likes 2 Retweets
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  • 17
    Font - alex @b1gmOmmym1lkerz ask them what social media is and act like a time traveler 7:24 PM 2/7/23 · 15.2K Views 472 Likes 7 Retweets 1 Quote
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  • 18
    Font - two cowboys TAYLOR 5/6 @lostournovelty get their info instead. tell them either you can't remember, you're in a rush, you just changed your username, etc. ask for their number, user, code, and tell them you'll add them soon or whatever 3:14 PM 2/7/23 38.7K Views . 593 Likes 4 Retweets
    via gremlita
  • 19
    Font - kennethee (hunter stan first, human... @Kennetheevinci Go to is usually just say I don't have it, I don't really use it, the stuff in it is so old because I haven't used it a long time (and I'm embarassed abt it). And usually if they don't catch the signal by now I just flat out say I don't want to give it to them. 9:31 AM 2/7/23 41.9K Views 149 Likes
    via gremlita
  • 20
    Font - maybe she born w bars maybe iss tra... @WocDonna Tartt I say I've been on a social media break since the pandemic and I've lost interest in oversharing with bare strangers so I simply never went back (which is true). How they react tells me everything I need to know about them. 3:32 PM 2/7/23 29.9K Views . 164 Likes 2 Retweets 1 Quote
    via gremlita

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