When you're running a big page, you'll attract a large audience.
And some members of that audience will connect with you quite profoundly.
Many will send you messages and want to chat with you.
The way to approach this is with a sort of friendly, warm caution, and I'll tell you why:
- Some of your audience will be complete lunatics. They could be intellectually disabled, or not the full bottle, or have other behavioral issues. If you become their best friend, it can be hard to wean them off, so engage with them, but maintain some distance.
- They might be a top bloke just giving you a tip. Thank them for the tip, engage in some banter, and go your own way.
- Others will talk to you, and you'll find you have a lot in common, and you could actually be friends with them in real life. These are people you may never have met. Some of these can be incredibly valuable—particularly if you meet people around the world. You never know what opportunities you might find.
- Unfortunately, you also need to assume anyone messaging you might be a scammer. Don't be naive. If someone messages with offers of things that are too good to be true, you might want to be cautious with that. The more visible you are online, the more vectors you give the world.
- If females (or males) who "like you" message you, treat these messages with extreme caution. It's more than likely these messages are fake. It's often a straight scam, or they want you to say embarrassing things. You really shouldn't engage with that stuff digitally. You can talk to people (if it's appropriate to do so)—but if things go in a spicy direction, I wouldn't engage under any circumstances.
Some other tips:
- Don't tell people where you live. This one goes without saying.
- Don't give away personal information, and this can be subtle. Don't send screen captures of your phone.
- Don't post any financial information, who you bank with, phone numbers, or identifying information.
- When you take photos, be careful to think about whether or not you have the permission of those in the photos. Not necessarily because it's illegal to post a public photo. More just because other people may not want to engage with your massive audience. Be mindful of that.
- If you're at home, be careful not to take photos of your environment that identify what you have or where you are.
- If you post material about an event you're at, it's often wise that you've already left before you post. If people know where you are live, they know where you are not.
- Don't click on links or assume anything people have sent you is legit. Assume every communication you get is a scam.
- As funny as it sounds, don't do favors for people, whatever they are, that involve you doing things or giving endorsements to others. You don't know who people are. Tying your brand to people you don't know is really risky.
Conclusion
When you run a big page, you stop being "just a person" and become a public figure in the eyes of your audience—whether you like it or not.
That's why you need to set clear boundaries, and have a cautious mindset, and a professional approach.
Be warm and human, but don't let strangers pull you into their dramas, scams, or agendas.
Protect your privacy, your time, and your reputation.
The strongest pages are run by creators who build connections without overexposing themselves. Be one of them.