How to Respond to Compliments on Social Media

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Easy ways to show gratitude on platforms like Instagram or Twitter/X
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Knowing how to reply to social media compliments can be tricky. Should you put lots of care into responding to every compliment or just put out a blanket "thank you" message? Don't worry—we've put together some foolproof ways to respond to social media compliments (with lots of examples) to help you out.

This article is based on an interview with our professional dating coach and licensed social worker, Julianne Cantarella. Check out the full interview here.

How do you respond to a compliment on Instagram?

Keep it simple with a gracious response like "You made my day!" "You're the best!" or "Wow, I really appreciate that." You can also use emojis to highlight your gratitude, like 🤩 (star-struck emoji) or 🙏 (folded hands emoji).

Question 1 of 3:

Ways to Respond to a Social Media Compliment

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  1. [1] Acknowledge the kind comment, and encourage the person since they took the time to reach out. Use an upbeat and friendly tone. Describe how good they made you feel, and praise them, too. [2] You can say something like: [3]
    • “Aw! You made my day! You’re the best.”
    • “Wow! I really appreciate that. You’re so sweet!”
    • “Thanks! I’m smiling so hard right now. You’re amazing.”
  2. Give your response a pop of color and personality. Feel free to react with just an emoji by itself, or pair it with a little comment. Your admirer will see that you took a little time to find the best visual to capture how you feel. [4]
    • “🤩”
    • “I’m honored! 🙏”
    • “I’m speechless! 😶💛”
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  3. Whip up some silly comments designed to lift them up. [5] Joke about all their flattery, then praise them right back. [6] Use the moment as an opportunity to talk about their great traits. You’ll lighten things up and help them notice what’s wonderful about themselves. [7]
    • “Really smooth! You’re just trying to butter me up! 🧈”
    • “Look who’s talking. 😏 I could use those same lines on you!”
    • “Okay. Now you’re in the running to be my best friend. 🏅”
  4. Go above and beyond the expected one-liner and speak from the heart. Keep a really sincere and warm tone—you’ll let them know how much their compliment moved you. [8] Express gratitude for their presence, even if it’s just on social media. [9] You may even have a tighter bond when you take a little extra time to appreciate them. [10]
    • “Thank you for taking the time to write this. You really have a way with words, and I really cherish this comment. I’d looked over it a few times already. It’s amazing how thoughtful and observant you are.”
    • “You’re honestly so kind. Every time you comment, you’re positive and uplifting. I’m so lucky to know you, and you help me appreciate different parts of myself. You’re a gift to anyone who meets you!”
  5. If you were part of a team effort, such as a photoshoot or a music video, make sure each person involved feels valued and important. Tag everyone who contributed to the vision and use your caption to give them a special shout-out. You’ll keep strong connections, and your followers will notice how well you treat others. [11]
    • “Shout-out to my MUA, @brushstrokes! 🖌️ She’s the realest!”
    • “Sampled some wicked beats by @trackmonster! 🎚️ Thanks, bro!”
    • “Props to @sliceanddice for editing this video! 🎞️ Awesome cut scenes!”
  6. [12] The tone and message someone’s going for can be really hard to figure out online. Even if they mean to be cute with an emoji like a smirk face (😏), they may accidentally come across as sarcastic. Assume the best. You can even ask a casual question like: [13]
    • “Hm… what does that mean? 😀”
    • “What are you going for there? 😉”
    • “Not sure how to read that. 🤓 Wanna help me out?”
  7. If you don’t get the right vibe from the comment, don’t pay attention to it. You can even delete it. It’s your page, and you get to decide what stays on it. Forget about the confusing or vague remark, then chat with your friends or unwind any way you want. [14]
    • You can also hide your posts from anyone even if you don’t want to delete them as a “friend.”
    • You’ll show you’re confident and mature when you focus on positive interactions.
    • You can report any negative comment so staff members on the platform can look into it.
  8. Whenever you publish content online, you leave your mark. Look at your word choice and decide if you’ve presented yourself well or if you need to rephrase anything. Make sure your tone is friendly enough to impress anyone who sees your answer. When you prioritize being thoughtful, you’ll make the internet a kinder place. [15]
    • Read your comment by itself and out of context. If it seems super nice, you’re ready to post it.
    • Check for typos. When your answer is really polished, you’ll show you put time into it.
    • Tag the person who complimented you so they can find your response when they log on.
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Question 2 of 3:

How Are Compliments on Social Media Different?

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  1. In real life, you’re probably expected to thank someone right away. Sometimes, you might even feel put on the spot and won’t know what to say. Online, you don’t have to reply immediately. Instead, you can wait and really think about the best way to handle kind words. [16]
    • You also have the chance to re-read compliments on social media.
    • You can return to kind words online for a quick confidence boost.
    • Other people can read your responses and learn about your personality.
  2. All the social media platforms out there offer a whole variety of reactions, like emojis, gifs, or full-length comments. Depending on how you use them, you can get really close to someone who praised you, or you can keep things super casual. [17]
    • Emojis come in many forms, from (😲) to (😻), so you have a lot of options. [18]
    • Gifs make use of animated clips, like a “happy dance,” to express yourself.
    • Text boxes let you write short, quick responses or long, thoughtful ones.
  3. If someone is right in front of you and says something nice, it’s polite to acknowledge them. When people are online, though, they scroll through a bunch of content, comment quickly, and move about their day. They won’t really expect to hear back from you.
    • People get distracted on social media. They may forget what they said a couple hours ago.
    • If another notification pops up from someone else, they’ll probably pay attention to that.
    • It’s normal for people to get really busy, so they won’t expect you to have the time to reply.
  4. Since people log on for short conversations, you only need to put in a little bit of effort. Even one warm comment will go a long way. Anyone who talks to you online will remember you as someone who’s super kind. [19]
    • They’ll look at your comment and pick up a first impression right away.
    • They’re likely to focus on and hold onto a short phrase like “thank you” or “you’re sweet.”
    • Even if you wonder if the compliment is sincere, be nice . People will respect your positivity.
  5. For example, a one-liner or emoji is enough on Facebook, while a retweet on Twitter helps you shine the spotlight on someone who complimented you. Other forms of social media let you show off new sides of your personality and express your appreciation in unique ways. [20]
    • On Instagram, you have the option to DM a “thank you” or tag them in a comment.
    • On Snapchat, you can send an emoji , a smiling selfie, a sticker, or even a video.
    • On TikTok , you can record a quick clip and use the “#thankyou” hashtag.
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Question 3 of 3:

Spotting a Compliment on Social Media

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  1. Someone will speak to you directly and point out any special skills, talents, or traits of yours. They’ll tailor their comment so you know that you stood out to them. They’ll probably say something like: [21]
    • You’re the best baker in the world! Thank you so much for my b-day cake! 🎂”
    • “You have the voice of an angel! 💖 I bet you’ll get a record deal soon!”
    • “That was a really deep post! You really make me think. 🤔”
  2. When someone wants to engage on social media but they’re in a hurry, they might just use a one-liner. Look for positive phrases like “wow” or “cool.” Even though these expressions are really common, they’re still supportive. [22]
    • “Awesome. 👍”
    • “Amazing! 😮”
    • “Stunning. ❤️”
  3. Check for the context. For example, if you posted some artwork, and someone sends a customized sticker that says “happy birthday,” then it was probably a mistake. However, if they hit you with a heart when you post a selfie, it’s usually a sign that they like you. [23]
    • If the sticker matches the situation, they put effort in and want to show they care.
    • For instance, they might send a cartoon that says, “nice work,” if you got an “A” on a paper.
    • It’s easy to accidentally hit the wrong “react” button. Let it slide if you’re unsure about it.
  4. In one of these situations, they’ll probably tag you to get your attention. They’ll know you’re a big presence online and that it’ll be easier for you to find their comment if they give you a special shout-out. They’ll reach out with something like: [24]
    • “These are some sweet custom kicks! 👟 I gotta tell all my friends about you!”
    • “I love your makeup tutorials! 💄 You’re my fave vlogger!”
    • “Best pizza in town. 🍕 Everyone, treat yourself and grab a slice!”
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      References

      1. ↑ Julianne Cantarella. Dating & Relationship Coach. Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.
      2. ↑ Lynda Jean. Certified Image Consultant. Expert Interview. 17 November 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/CCI/Consumer-Modules/Assert-Yourself/Assert-Yourself---09---Giving-and-Receiving-Compliments-Assertively.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02221/full
      5. ↑ Julianne Cantarella. Dating & Relationship Coach. Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.
      6. ↑ Lynda Jean. Certified Image Consultant. Expert Interview. 17 November 2020.
      7. ↑ https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-use-of-humor-in-Spanish-and-English-compliment-Mir-Cots/8c50fdaec159d42c766343cb15b088a190df52a6
      8. ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview. 29 September 2020.
      9. ↑ Lynda Jean. Certified Image Consultant. Expert Interview. 17 November 2020.
      1. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/in-praise-of-gratitude-201211215561
      2. ↑ https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/overclaiming-credit/
      3. ↑ Julianne Cantarella. Dating & Relationship Coach. Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.
      4. ↑ https://study.com/academy/lesson/clarifying-questions-definition-examples.html
      5. ↑ ttps://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/how-to-deal-with-haters
      6. ↑ https://www.iste.org/explore/5-competencies-digital-citizenship
      7. ↑ https://qz.com/1417235/omg-youre-amazing-how-people-respond-or-not-to-compliments-on-social-media/
      8. ↑ https://smnlab.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Meshi_2015_TICS.pdf
      9. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340131966_More_than_playfulness_Emojis_in_the_comments_of_a_WeChat_official_account
      10. ↑ https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2012/02/29/main-findings-teens-technology-and-human-potential-in-2020/
      11. ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2056305117691544#
      12. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200403/the-art-the-compliment
      13. ↑ https://ideas.ted.com/the-secret-to-giving-a-compliment-that-makes-people-glow/
      14. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318740552_Facebook_sentiment_Reactions_and_Emojis
      15. ↑ https://repository.arizona.edu/bitstream/handle/10150/105375/trant-studyingFolksonomy.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

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