Storytelling and content curation serve different purposes. The majority of people share content. I have seen many people on social media for example Threads.net call themselves storytellers instead of content curators. In this article, I disucss the differences between rehashing other people’s content and the art of telling story. Storytelling on social media is the art of crafting a narrative that engages, educates, or inspires the audience. For example in music production,  I tell a story in each song, crafting narratives that resonate with my audience within the same genre. This approach attracts my target audience by offering a compelling story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, along with a call to action.

Storytelling goes beyond merely sharing information; it weaves a cohesive and compelling story that connects with people emotionally. A well-told story on social media follows a structured flow a beginning, middle, and end while offering insights, personal experiences, or a brand’s message.

Key elements of storytelling on social media include:

• Authenticity: Authenticity is the cornerstone of effective storytelling. Whether you are an individual sharing a personal journey or a brand narrating its evolution, genuine content resonates with the audience.

• Emotional Connection: Stories evoke emotions, which in turn create memorable experiences. Successful storytelling makes people feel something—joy, sadness, inspiration, or motivation.

• Character Development: Even in a short-form post, storytelling can include relatable characters. Whether it’s a brand’s founder, a customer, or an employee, characters make the story human and engaging.

• Visual Elements: Storytelling on social media often integrates images, videos, and graphics to make the content more dynamic. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube thrive on visual storytelling.

• Consistency and Context: A single post may tell a short story, but ongoing storytelling requires consistency. Brands that share continuous narratives over time create stronger audience engagement.

 Sometimes storytelling is in one sentence.

Sometimes, your story sparks opinions like this one:

What is Content Sharing on Social Media?

Content sharing, on the other hand, is the act of distributing existing contenteither created by oneself or by others—across social media platforms. This can involve reposting articles, sharing memes, resharing news with your opinion added to it, or reposting viral trends without adding significant context or original storytelling.

When you curate content and add your opinion or analysis to it, it is called “content curation with commentary” or “annotated curation.” Some other related terms include:

• Opinionated Curation – Selecting and sharing content while adding your own insights.
• Content Aggregation with Analysis – Gathering information from various sources and providing your perspective.
• Thought Leadership Curation – Adding expert opinions to curated content to position yourself as a thought leader.
• Editorialized Curation – Selecting content and shaping the narrative with your own editorial input

Here are a few things to keep in mind when disabling comments:

• Protecting against misinformation:

  • If fake accounts or manipulated narratives are spreading harmful or false information, disabling comments might be seen as a necessary step to protect the integrity of the discussion. Misinformation can spread rapidly in the digital age, and people often make decisions based on false claims. In this case, disabling comments could help stop the spread of harmful content, which some may view as ethically responsible.
  • Avoiding harassment:
  • In political discussions, particularly when high-profile figures are involved, there can be a lot of hostile or abusive comments. Disabling comments could be a way to avoid harassment, especially when you’re trying to focus on constructive or thoughtful exchanges. In my case disabling the comment was a valid choice.
  • There is a lot of spam from Mr. Beast and explicit porn content in comment sections on platforms like Threads and other social channels, especially on posts with high engagement (likes, comments, reshares). This is one of the reasons I disable comments or hide spam in comment sections. These individuals use bots and fake accounts to flood these spaces with unwanted content.

Why Storytelling is More Powerful than Reposting?

While content sharing is useful, storytelling has a stronger impact because:

• It Creates Deeper Engagement: People are naturally drawn to stories. They remember narratives better than plain facts or isolated posts.

• It Establishes a Unique Identity: A brand or influencer who tells original stories stands out in the crowded social media landscape.

• It Encourages Audience Loyalty: Storytelling fosters a sense of connection, making followers more likely to engage, follow, and trust the storyteller.

• It Drives Emotional Responses: Unlike simple content sharing, stories evoke emotions, leading to higher shares, discussions, and interactions.

Balancing Storytelling and Content Sharing

A well-rounded social media strategy includes both storytelling and content sharing. Here’s how to balance them effectively:

• Curate and Add Insight: If you share someone else’s content, provide personal insights, opinions, or experiences related to it.

• Mix Original and Shared Content: Aim for a healthy mix of unique stories and relevant shared posts.

• Use User-Generated Content Creatively: Instead of just resharing customer posts, integrate them into your storytelling.

• Engage with Your Community: Rather than blindly sharing content, ask questions, spark discussions, and encourage participation.

Storytelling and content sharing both play important roles in social media engagement, but they are not the same. Simply rehashing others’ content without adding depth or context does not constitute storytelling. Storytelling involves creating a narrative that connects with audiences on a deeper level, while content sharing is more about distributing information. To truly stand out on social media, businesses, influencers, and individuals should prioritize storytelling while strategically incorporating content sharing to enhance their message. By doing so, they can build stronger relationships, foster trust, and create a lasting impact in the digital world.