Don’t Fall for the Social Media Whispers

If you’ve spent any time in the world of business networking or marketing, you’ve probably heard them: the whispers.Little snippets of advice shared at events, in comment threads, or over coffee. “Don’t post more than once a week, LinkedIn will penalise you.” “Videos don’t work anymore.” “Using certain words will kill your reach.”

Recently, I overheard one that made me stop in my tracks:“If you add the word woman or menopause to a LinkedIn post, it will reduce your impressions.”

Is that true? Or is it just another bit of social media folklore?

The Problem With Whispers

Social platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram are constantly evolving. Algorithms change, user behaviours shift, and new features are introduced all the time. The result? People fill in the gaps with theories, sometimes based on a single post, a hunch, or a misread of their analytics.

Those whispers spread quickly because they sound insider-y, like you’re getting a secret shortcut. But more often than not, they’re just myths.

The Truth About Keywords and Reach

There’s no solid evidence that LinkedIn suppresses posts containing words like woman or menopause. In fact, LinkedIn has been actively working to make the platform more inclusive and to amplify diverse conversations. If anything, discussions around gender, health, and inclusion are becoming more visible, not less.

What actually affects reach?

• Engagement: Do people comment, like, or share your post?

• Relevance: Is your content resonating with your audience?

• Consistency: Are you showing up regularly?

Algorithms are designed to reward content that sparks conversation and keeps people on the platform, not to quietly punish certain words.

Why These Myths Matter

The danger of believing whispers is that they can silence important voices. If professionals avoid writing about menopause, women’s leadership, or gender equity out of fear of losing reach, we all lose valuable perspectives.

Social media works best when people bring their real selves to the table. That includes talking about topics that matter, even if they’re sometimes uncomfortable.

How to Beat the Whispers

Next time you hear a rumor about what you “should” or “shouldn’t” do on LinkedIn, ask:

1. Where’s the evidence? Is this backed by data or just someone’s experience with one post?

2. Does it align with my goals? A “best practice” that silences your voice isn’t best for you.

3. Have I tested it myself? The best way to know what works is to experiment with your own content and audience.

Final Thought

Social media success isn’t about chasing every whisper. It’s about showing up consistently, creating genuine value, and sparking real conversations. If talking about women, menopause, or any other human topic is part of your mission, do it boldly.

Because the truth is, authenticity beats algorithm myths every single time.

Perfect — a little teaser for the next post will keep readers curious and coming back. Here’s the updated ending with that addition:

Final Thought

Social media success isn’t about chasing every whisper. It’s about showing up consistently, creating genuine value, and sparking real conversations. If talking about women, menopause, or any other human topic is part of your mission, do it boldly with your big boy or girl pants on!

Because the truth is, authenticity beats algorithm myths every single time .

Watch out for my next blog post: “What Are Impressions on LinkedIn and Why Are They Important?”