As an avid social media user, I frequently come across popular terms that become ubiquitous before I fully grasp their meaning.
One such term that has permeated social platforms recently is “bump.” At first, I assumed bump simply meant to bring more attention to a social media post by liking, commenting or sharing it.
However, after seeing bump used in various contexts, I realized there are nuances to its meaning that depend on the platform.
The origin of bump comes from early Internet forums where users would “bump” old threads to the top of the page by posting a new comment.
On social media today, bump can mean to give a post more visibility, show you support the content or want to start an engaging discussion.
In this article, I aim to provide clarity on the popular social media term “bump” and how its meaning differs depending on whether you’re bumping on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.
The Origin of "Bump" on Social Media
The term “bump” originated on social media platforms as a way for users to bring more attention to their posts or content.
By bumping a post, users can move it back to the top of followers’ feeds in hopes of increased engagement.
How Bumping Works
Bumping a social media post is a strategic way to revive interest in your content after initial interest has waned or to reach new audiences that may have missed it the first time.
The most common ways users bump their posts include:
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Reposting the original content.
By deleting the initial post and re-sharing it, the post will appear at the top of followers’ feeds again as a new post.
This is an easy way to bump, but risks annoying followers who have already seen the content. -
Sharing a “throwback” post.
Posting an image or link to past content and labeling it as a “throwback” is a popular way to bump while being transparent that the content is not new.
Followers tend to be more receptive to throwback posts. -
Tagging influencers or brands.
If the post mentions or features a product, service or personality with a large following, tagging that account in a comment on the original post may prompt them to like, share or comment on it.
Their engagement will bump the post in other users’ feeds. -
Using trending hashtags.
Adding hashtags to the original post that are currently popular or trending can make the post appear in the results for those hashtags, exposing it to new audiences and bumping it in their feeds.
Bumping social media posts is an easy, low-effort way to revive interest in your content and reach new potential followers or customers.
When done strategically and considerately, bumping can be an effective tool for boosting your visibility and engagement on social platforms.
What Does "Bump" Mean on Different Platforms?
As a social media user, you have likely seen the term “bump” used on various platforms, but what exactly does it mean?
The definition of “bump” can differ slightly depending on the network, but in general, it refers to bringing an old social media post back to the top of the feed to increase engagement.
On Facebook, “bump” means to comment on an old post, photo or status update to move it to the top of your friends’ News Feeds again.
People will often say “bump!” or “bumping this!” when they comment.
Bumping a Facebook post is an easy way to revive an old memory, continue an unfinished conversation, or draw renewed attention to something you shared in the past.
When used on Twitter, “bump” means to retweet an old tweet to bring it back to the top of your followers’ timelines.
Just like on Facebook, tweeting “bump!” or “bumping this!” while retweeting an old tweet indicates you are intentionally moving that tweet back to the top of the conversation.
Bumping a tweet on Twitter can be a way to re-share something interesting you tweeted in the past that may have been missed by your followers.
On Reddit, “bump” refers to commenting on your own old post or comment to move it higher up on the page so more people will see and engage with it.
Reddit sorts posts and comments by popularity and recency, so bumping your own content is a way to revive the conversation and gain more upvotes and replies.
Adding a simple “bump” comment is all it takes to bump your post on Reddit.
When and Why People Use "Bump" on Social Media
As an avid social media user, I frequently see the term “bump” used to draw attention to posts, comments, messages or other content.
Bumping refers to bringing an older social media post back to the top of the feed so more people will notice and engage with it.
There are a few common reasons why individuals may choose to bump their social content:
Revive Interest or Conversations
Bumping a post is a way to revive interest in the topic or restart a conversation that has gone dormant.
The original post may have generated good discussion and engagement that the user wants to continue.
Bumping the post brings it back to the top of followers’ feeds so they are more likely to see it again and contribute further.
Gain More Exposure
Bumping a post, photo, video or other content is an easy way to gain more exposure and reach new audiences.
As social platforms have grown, users have more friends, followers and connections over time.
Bumping older content gives it a second chance to be seen by new followers and connections that weren’t around when it was first posted.
The additional exposure can lead to more likes, comments, shares and overall engagement with the post.
Remind Followers
Users may bump a post as a way to remind followers about something important like an event, product launch, announcement or other news.
Rather than creating an entirely new post, bumping the original one calls attention to the details again.
Followers who may have missed or forgotten about the event or announcement the first time will have another opportunity to see the information.
In summary, the popular social media term "bump" refers to bringing older content back to the top of the feed.
Users bump their posts, photos, videos and other social content to revive interest, gain more exposure, remind followers and drive engagement.
Bumping gives new life and a second chance at visibility for social media posts.
"Bump" vs. Similar Social Media Terms
As social media has evolved, so too has the terminology used to describe interactions and trends on the various platforms.
The term “bump” is commonly used, but what exactly does it mean and how does it differ from related phrases?
“Bump”
To “bump” a social media post means to bring it back to the top of the timeline by commenting on it, liking it, or sharing it again.
Bumping a post gives it new life and increased visibility, allowing more people to see it, engage with it, and keep the conversation going.
I frequently bump older posts on my profiles if I want to revisit a topic or draw more attention to something I shared previously.
Similar Terms
Some other popular social media terms are similar to “bump” but have slightly different meanings:
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“Revive” - To bring an old post or topic of discussion back to life by starting a new conversation about it.
Reviving a post often leads to new insights and perspectives. -
“Throwback” - Sharing an older image, post, or meme specifically to elicit nostalgia.
Throwbacks are meant to reminisce about the past. -
“Repost” - Simply sharing someone else’s content again to spread it to more people.
A repost does give the original post more visibility but the intention and context are different than bumping or reviving a post. -
“Reshare” - Like a repost, resharing means posting someone else’s content on your own profile.
Resharing is common when the content is still relevant and you want to spread an important message or update.
While these terms are related, the nuances in how they’re used on social media platforms are distinct.
Understanding the subtle differences can help in more effective engagement and sharing.
The next time I bump, revive, or throwback a post, I’ll be sure to use the most appropriate term and consider my exact intentions in bringing that content to the forefront again.
Best Practices for Using "Bump" on Social Media
When using the popular term "bump" on social media, there are a few best practices to keep in mind:
Do bump to revive old posts
Bumping an old social media post means sharing it again to bring it back to the top of your followers' feeds.
This is an easy way to revive valuable evergreen content or highlight a post from the archives that is still interesting and relevant.
I will occasionally look through my older posts and bump ones that I think would still resonate with my audience or that cover topics I want to re-emphasize.
Don't overbump
While bumping useful content is fine, don't do it too frequently or with too many posts in a short time period.
Overbumping can annoy your followers and come across as desperate for attention or engagement.
As a general rule of thumb, I do not bump any one post more than 2-3 times per year and limit bumping to 1-2 posts per week maximum.
Bump at optimal times
For the best results, bump posts during peak engagement times when more of your followers are online and active on social media.
Typically, this means bumping during the middle of the day or in the early evening on weekdays when people are browsing social media on their lunch breaks or after work.
Bumping at off-peak hours like late at night is less likely to lead to renewed interest and engagement.
Update bumped posts
When bumping an older post, I make an effort to freshen it up to keep it relevant.
This could mean adding an update on any new information or developments related to the topic, revising wording to match your current brand voice, or including a new intro paragraph that reframes the content for today's context.
Updated, evergreen posts tend to generate the most interest when bumped.
Bump your best, evergreen content at optimal times and in moderation, making updates as needed to keep posts fresh and relevant.
Your followers will appreciate you highlighting your most useful content again.
But be careful not to overbump, or you risk annoying them with too much repetition too quickly.
Conclusion
As social media continues to evolve at a rapid pace, new words and phrases are constantly entering our shared lexicon.
"Bump" is one such term that has risen to popularity and spread across platforms, used by people around the world to bring more attention and engagement to their social media posts.
While its origins and exact meaning remain unclear, bump's widespread use demonstrates how connected we have become through technology and how ideas can spread globally in an instant.
Social media may be prone to fleeting fads and buzzwords, but some terms endure and become an inextricable part of how we communicate in the digital age.
For now, at least, bump appears here to stay.
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