If Sharks were on social media!
Every shark is different, but imagine if sharks had access to social media? Which shark do you relate to most?
You're scrolling through your LinkedIn feed and instead of the usual suspects posting their Monday motivation quotes, you've got a whole school of sharks making waves in the digital ocean. Mental? Maybe. Content strategy inspiration? Definitely. We've been thinking about what would happen if different shark species took to social media. So, let's dive into this rather fishy social media analysis. It’s about to get sharky!
🍋The lemon shark: your social media's best mate
Meet the lemon shark. These yellow-brown beauties are the ones you'll find in every comment section, liking posts left and right, and genuinely wanting to be part of every conversation. They're the social butterflies of the sea.
What makes them special on social media:
🦈 They're social creatures who form real associations
🦈 Always up for a chat and genuinely interested in what you're up to
🦈 The type to remember your dog's name and ask how your holiday went (Every shark needs a dogfish)
🦈 Masters at building genuine connections rather than just collecting vanity metrics
💡The lantern shark: small but mighty bright
This little shark proves that size means nothing. Lantern sharks might be among the tiniest sharks in the ocean (the largest species only reaches 3.5 feet), but they know exactly how to make an impression. These clever creatures can glow in multiple colours and aren't apologising for taking up space.
What makes them smart on social media:
🦈 You don't need to be the loudest voice to be heard
🦈 It's about how you create your content, not how big your following is
🦈 They understand that being authentic beats trying to be something you're not
🦈 Masters of making their personality shine through, even in a crowded feed
🍪 The cookiecutter shark: death to template marketing
The tiny rebel that's having none of your one-size-fits-all garbage. These creatures (only 18-20 inches long) have made quite the name for themselves with their unique feeding strategy.
Why they'd destroy the competition:
🦈 Refuses cookie-cutter approaches like their life depends on it
🦈 Understands that what works for someone else won't necessarily work for you
🦈 Masters at tailoring their approach to exactly what their audience needs
🦈 Focuses on understanding their target market instead of copying trends blindly
👀 The puffadder shyshark: the LinkedIn lurker
The puffadder shyshark (or "Happy Eddie" as they're known) is the ultimate social media lurker. These creatures from South African waters have mastered the art of hiding, curving into a doughnut shape and covering their eyes with their tails when threatened.
Here's why they represent half your audience:
🦈 They're always around, just watching from the shadows
🦈 Not quite ready to reveal themselves yet
🦈 It takes serious confidence to start commenting, let alone creating content
🦈 Just because they're not engaging doesn't mean they're not interested
🐅 The tiger shark: the bold character
Enter the tiger shark. The legend who's not afraid of anything and lets their personality run wild on social media. These magnificent creatures are known for being bold, curious, and willing to investigate anything that catches their eye.
What makes them social media gold:
🦈 They're not afraid to swim into shallow waters and get involved
🦈 Bold enough to share their genuine personality without apology
🦈 Masters at standing out from the crowd
🔨 The hammerhead shark: the social media empath
The hammerhead shark has got to be the most recognisable shark around, and there's a very good reason for that distinctive head shape. These incredible creatures have enhanced sensory abilities that let them detect even the faintest electrical signals. They're the empaths of the shark world.
Why they'd dominate social media:
🦈 Amazing at sensing what's going on around them
🦈 Can pick up on people's feelings and the mood of conversations
🦈 Their unique design gives them enhanced abilities to read situations
🦈 Masters at understanding their audience on a deeper level than surface analytics
🚫 The bull shark: please don't be this one
We need to have a word about the bull shark. Now, don't get us wrong, bull sharks are essential for marine ecosystems and they're incredible creatures. But in terms of social media behaviour? Well, let's just say they represent the online bullies we'd all rather avoid.
The bull shark approach to social media (seriously, don't do this):
⚡ Highly territorial and aggressive in their interactions
⚡ Sometimes seems to provoke reactions just for the sake of it
⚡ Can be found in both saltwater and freshwater environments (aka everywhere online)
⚡ Not afraid of confrontation, but not in a good way
🦈 The great white shark: the misunderstood giant
Last but certainly not least, we've got the great white shark. The one that gets all the attention but is probably the most misunderstood of the lot. Thanks to a certain film (looking at you, Jaws), these magnificent creatures have got a reputation that's largely unfair.
Why great whites struggle with social media:
🦈 Often misunderstood despite their best intentions
🦈 Curious by nature, but sometimes their attempts at engagement come across wrong
🦈 Struggle with getting their message across the way they meant it
🦈 Known for their size and presence, but actually quite thoughtful
So, which shark are you?
After reading through all these personalities, you're probably thinking you're a bit of a mix (and you'd be right, we all are).
The point isn't to box yourself into one category, but to understand that there's room for every type of personality on social media. Whether you're the friendly lemon shark building genuine connections, the glowing lantern shark making your unique voice heard, or even the misunderstood great white trying to get your message across, there's space for you in the digital ocean.
What should you focus on?
⚡ Be authentically you: Don't try to be the tiger shark if you're naturally more of a lantern shark
⚡ Quality over quantity: The cookiecutter shark proves that targeted, tailored approaches beat generic templates every time
⚡ Lurkers are valuable too: Just because someone isn't commenting doesn't mean they're not interested
⚡ Use your natural strengths: If you're naturally empathetic like a hammerhead, lean into that superpower
⚡ Avoid the bully behaviour: Nobody wants to work with the online equivalent of a bull shark
⚡ Don't give up if you're misunderstood: Even great whites find their tribe eventually
Time to make some waves
So there you have it. Our completely bonkers but hopefully helpful guide to shark personalities in the social media world. The beauty of this whole digital ocean is that there's room for every type of swimmer, from the tiniest glowing lantern shark to the mightiest great white.
The next time you're feeling stuck about your social media strategy, just remember even sharks have different approaches to navigating their environment, and they've been doing just fine for millions of years.
Which shark are you, and more importantly, are you ready to embrace your natural social media instincts?👀
And if you're struggling with your social media, why not get in touch.
Everyone needs a Sparky Shark on their side.😁
