The Complete Guide to Tumblr Etiquette

What's This?

By Sara Roncero-Menendez2013-11-16 14:13:49 UTC

Tumblr, like most social media platforms, has a world all its own, complete with a specific etiquette. It can be a bit confusing for users just starting out on the site, and although Tumblr has plenty of users who are willing to help, not everyone knows how to find them.

New users need look no further. This guide highlights a lot of the big topics and day-to-day practices of having a Tumblr account, which may help you have a better overall experience on the site.

See also: The Beginner's Guide to Tumblr

Whether you want to maximize your Tumblr experience or just want to learn how to participate in activities on this popular social network, here's a complete guide to Tumblr etiquette.

Following Others

People use Tumblr in many different ways, whether it's connecting with fan communities, making friends or creating personal diaries. There is no correct way to blog, so do what feels right to you. You'll likely encounter blogs with content you enjoy, so follow them for more of that content.

Understand that if a person you know in real life is reluctant or refuses to give you his or her Tumblr URL, try not to take it personally. He or she may choose to keep a Tumblr separate from real life or want to make sure he or she can post honest feelings and opinions without the pressure of censoring said posts.

Reblogging Content, Replies and Commentary

Reblogging content is one of the basic functions of Tumblr, and it's an important tool in sharing new information, having a discussion on the latest episode of a TV show or even just having a laugh. Users can post replies on another user's post if that post's author has enabled them. If replies aren't enabled, users can also add commentary to a post when they reblog it.

A common form of commentary is the reaction GIF, which usually expresses a sentiment of agreement or disagreement. The GIF can also add to the joke or expose a funny coincidence. For example, if a user posts, "It feels like this Tuesday is never going to end," someone might reblog it with this reaction GIF from the show Supernatural:

Image: Tumblr, allthesupernaturalgifs

The result is added comedic value to the post. If you want to add a GIF to a post, simply click on the camera icon, select the image or GIF and it will appear in the post.

Commentary can also address additional facets or fallacies in an argument. Some of the most interesting, in-depth conversations on Tumblr occur on commentary threads. Sometimes, users reblog posts only for the commentary another user wrote.

Creating Multiple Blogs

Tumblr lets users manage several blogs from a single account. Some users create subculture-specific blogs to keep them separate from personal posts, while artists and writers use blogs as makeshift portfolios. You can queue posts so you don't have to look up and reblog content constantly, or you can post leisurely whenever a post you like appears on your dashboard.

Some users also opt for a password-protected blog, which allows a user to post privately and give out the password to only those he or she wants to read the blog. Note that the password for the private blog is not the same password as the account that runs the blog — you should never give out your account password to anyone. Any users with the password to the protected blog will only be able to view the blog, and cannot make any changes to it unless given special permission by the blog's author.

Tagging Posts and Trigger Warnings

Tagging your post makes them readily available for anyone who searches for a specific tag. If you want people to find your posts, the tags should reflect your content. You can also use broad terms such as "fashion," "lol" or "awesome."

See also: 15 Brands Rocking Tumblr

On Tumblr, there are many reports of missing people — the tag for those posts or any others that you want to be seen and reblogged by others is "signal boost." If you reblog anything that people wouldn't want to see on their work computers, tag it as "NSFW" (Not Safe For Work). If you write or post something from a show that aired recently, it's polite to tag it with "spoiler" so others can remain surprised. Groups of friends can even create their own tags so they can specifically track new activity among each other.

It's common practice to express personal reactions in tags. If a user likes a post, he or she might tag it with "This is the greatest thing I've ever seen" or "I agree 100%." Other common tag comments include "All the feels" when something is sad or moving, "Smh" (Shaking My Head) when you cannot believe what you just read, and "Faith in humanity restored" for an uplifting post.

Tags can only be seen on your reblogged version of the post and no where else.

It's important to properly tag anything that could be considered a trigger, as shown above. In the context of Tumblr, a trigger is defined as content that could make someone upset, uncomfortable, or forced to remember or relive a past trauma.

To tag posts with triggers, either type in "trigger warning" or, to be more specific, "tw:" followed by what the trigger is (e.g. "tw: depression"). Trigger tags include death, violence, rape, child abuse, suicide, drug use, kidnapping, surgery, blood, eating disorders, needles, pregnancy, scarification, and any -ism (sexism, racism, etc.) or phobia.

Failing to tag these triggers properly could not only cost you followers but also potentially upset or hurt others browsing your blog.

Ask Boxes and Messages

The ask box is a Tumblr feature that provides a quick way to ask questions and receive answers from users either privately or publicly. It can be a source of joy or aggravation, depending on who sends you questions. Whether you have your ask box open is under your control.

You can access the ask box from your blog's home page, as shown in the above image. If you write, "My ask box is always open" in your Tumblr bio, this means you're approachable to those who want to contact you. Often, this is done in an act of camaraderie and friendship, or in case a follower needs emotional support.

Remember, the characters you can type in ask box is limited, so when you send someone a question be concise and polite.

See also: The Beginner's Guide to the Hashtag

Some users may leave mean-spirited entries in your box if you allow users to send them anonymously. The best way to avoid this is to turn off the option to let anonymous users ask you question, which is located in Settings. It may not halt all of these users, but it will stop the majority of them in their tracks.

You can also send fan mail to users, which is Tumblr's version of private messaging. These can only be answered in private, but the feature does allow you to keep the messages in your inbox, since it's meant to foster longer conversations.

Personal Posts

Tumblr is as much about blogging your own personal experiences as it is partaking in Tumblr subcultures, but there are still some rules you should follow. If you write a personal post, you should tag it with "personal" or "personal post" so your followers can hide it from their dashboard if they so choose.

It's also polite to include a "Read More" button (circled in the image above) with your personal posts. Place the code at the top of the post so that when you publish it, only the "Read More" will be visible on someone's dashboard, where they can choose to read it or not.

Tumblr Celebrities and Friendships

The most popular blogs are ones with themes or ideas, but there are also popular celebrities on Tumblr. Authors such as John Green (and his science-savvy brother Hank), Neil Gaiman and Maureen Johnson have Tumblr blogs, as well as actors such as Dante Basco, Donald Glover and Aziz Ansari.

If you want to make friends on Tumblr, there are plenty of ways to do so, since most users are happy to chat and follow new blogs. Having an open ask box or actively reblogging and commenting on others' posts can foster friendships. However, not everyone is looking for friends on Tumblr, so if a user doesn't reply, don't take it personally.

Posting often with a specific tag can also attract like-minded fans, which can foster camaraderie. You can choose the degree of friendship you want to have, and there's no pressure to share any personal information.

Tumblr Trolling and Bullying

Although Tumblr is a great community, trolling and bullying are definitely present. Many users create troll accounts to upset and anger others, sometimes targeting specific individuals. Bullies harass, embarrass and intimidate other users using Tumblr's messaging system, or otherwise post malicious content.

This behavior is completely unacceptable. For many, Tumblr is a safe space to express thoughts and feelings freely. By harassing them on their blog, a bully only serves to further isolate and hurt others. If you are currently the victim of Tumblr bullying or abuse, email the abuser's URL, your screenname and URL and screenshots of the offensive posts to support@tumblr.com.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Image: Mashable composite. iStock, Ceneri, Electric_Crayon, Tumblr

Topics: Guide, How To, Social Media, tumblr