You’ve Got Spam! Dealing with Spammers and Keeping Yourself Safe Online
You just got a comment notification or message on social media. But, when you open the comment or message, you see something like this:
Spam comments like this are usually harmless. But, you want your comments section and message to be full of questions and comments from REAL people — not bots.
Spam Comments and Messages: Do’s and Don’ts
What should you do when you get a spam comment or message?
DO delete the comment or message.
DO report the sender for spam.
DO block the sender.
DON’T accept the message request.
DON’T respond.
DON’T follow the account.
And above all else, NEVER click any links they send.
Sending a link for you to click is the signature move of someone who wants to hack your account.
Even if you receive a suspicious link from someone you know, don’t click it. Their account could be hacked.
Deleting Spam Comments
So, you got a spam comment on your page. Usually, it’s nothing to worry about. But, to keep your page looking as clean and professional as possible, you’ll want to delete it.
How to Delete Spam Comments on Facebook
Deleting a spam comment on Facebook is easy, whether you’re dealing with your Business Page or your Group.
Find the comment you want to delete, then click the three dots to the right.
When the menu pops up, just press “Delete.”
Confirm you want to delete the comment when this box pops up:
And it’s gone! Follow this process every time you get a spam comment on Facebook.
How to Delete Spam Comments on Instagram
There are a couple more steps involved, but deleting spam comments from your Instagram posts is just as easy to do as it is on Facebook!
First, go to the post with the spam comment and open the comments section. Then, tap the three horizontal dots at the top of the screen.
This will open the “Comment Controls” window. Tap “Manage Comments.”
Check the box to the right of the comment you want to remove, then tap “Delete!”
Confirm that you want to delete the comment.
And you’re all set!
Delete Spam Messages
Now that your comments section is cleaned up, it’s time to do the same with your messages! Let’s start with Instagram.
Deleting Spam Messages on Instagram
When you receive a message from someone you don’t follow, it comes through as a message request. When that happens, you’ll see this at the bottom of the screen:
The best thing to do? Hit block.
If the message is just spammy, you don’t need to report it. Just block and move on! But, if they ask for your password, phone number, or send a suspicious link, report the account.
On the next screen, Instagram will ask you if you just want to block that account, or if you’d also like to block any new accounts that person makes.
I recommend blocking that account and any new ones they might make.
Once the person is blocked, their message should automatically disappear.
Deleting Spam Messages on Facebook
Deleting and blocking spammers on Facebook is a little bit easier than it is on Instagram. Here’s how to do it!