Reality check: Are you annoying on Facebook and Twitter?

It’s fine if you genuinely relate to a friend’s status update, but when you’re always virtually complimenting someone you haven’t seen since high school, it can come off as insincere.

“Randomly liking everyone’s posts diminishes the meaning,” says Dana Kaye, social media expert and owner of Kaye Publicity. “Facebook is about interacting and re-connecting online.” Come on, did you really like the fact that someone you went to school with got an oil change?

We’re always baffled when people write personal messages for all to see (i.e. let’s meet at Bondi at 2:45 p.m.). Seriously, that’s what your inbox is for. The same thing goes for love notes to your schnookums and inside jokes that only one out of your 362 friends will get.

“There’s a reason Facebook created a private messaging system,” says Kaye. “Personal messages about meeting your friend or saying hi to your significant other don’t belong on your wall. It can also alienate your other friends -- why weren’t they invited to brunch?” Save your wall posts for happy birthday wishes and do your personal business via email or text (or even an old fashioned phone call).

If it’s anything more than “Christian Bale/Anne Hathaway is so hot in the new Batman movie” you can bet that it’s TMI.

“Unless you’re a dating columnist or a sex expert, there shouldn’t be anything sexual in your timeline,” says Kaye. “It makes everyone uncomfortable and since it’s online, it will remain there forever. Would you want your boss or your mother reading the post?” If the side ads on your FB page are for condoms, KY Jelly and Planned Parenthood it might be a clue that you’re making us all throw up in our mouths.

Your best friends have threatened to stop hanging out with you if you tag them in one more picture where you look great and their back fat is showing.

“You don’t want unflattering photos of yourself online and neither do your friends,” says Kaye. “Just as with the case of randomly liking every post, it loses meaning if you post every photo you take.” Don’t just upload every pic on your camera. Instead, ask yourself: If this was a picture of me, would I want the world to see it? A little bit of mindful editing can go a long way toward preserving friendships.

If your heart rate shot up when it was rumoured that Facebook was going to start showing which profiles you’ve been clicking on, chances are you’ve been spending too many late nights doing “research.”

“Perhaps you’ve been stalking your ex a little too much,” says Kyes. “The only real damage it does is waste a bunch of time. And no, as of yet there’s no way to get caught.” Remember, knowing that your ex “likes” Hot Coffee is not going to reveal any deep insights into his character, so focus your energy on something else.

Admit it -- you feel really cool if you’re the first one to post/tweet breaking celeb news, as in OMG WHITNEY HOUSTON IS DEAD!

“If you’re the first of your pals to break the latest gossip, you probably share more about celebrities than you do about yourself,” says Kyes. “Your friends would probably love to hear more about you. Leave the gossip to the professionals, unless you get paid for it!” TMZ does a fine job of letting us know about celeb affairs and overdoses so either get an internship there or get off the net.

When you meet your friends in person do you ask, “Did you see what I posted today?,” because everything you do is already online? So much for seeing real-life reactions to the news that you’re engaged, having a baby or even just the funny anecdote from this weekend that you already told us all about as it was happening.

“If your friends already know your every move, then what’s left to discuss?” asks Kyes. “Stop posting so many of your daily life and your real-life conversations will be more interesting.” Remember, if it sounds like you’re repeating yourself it’s because we already read it online.

From the supermarket  store to the train station to your Ob/Gyn’s office, we’ve had the pleasure of travelling around town with you. But consider this: If your life was really that much fun, you wouldn’t have time to change your status or tweet about it.

“Check-in’s are meant to show off the cool places you happen to travel to,” says Kyes. “Once you begin checking in to Coles or your boyfriend’s bathroom, your posts aren’t nearly as cool, or relevant, as they should be.”

Is there even one hour of the day when you’re not fooling around online? At least have the forethought to make it seem like you have a life that involves more than starring at your computer monitor.

“If your posts are at the top of the news feed at every hour of the day, then you’re the epitome of over sharing,” says Kyes. “I recommend taking a walk outside, meeting some new friends or therapy.” And if you’re on there at 3 a.m. posting links to interesting articles please do yourself a favour and get some sleep.

From black and blues to broken wrists to swollen eyelids, we’ve unfortunately seen it all. Your need for attention has turned you into an online shock jock.

People who post photos of their injuries are cut from the same cloth as those who yank up their shirts in the middle of dinner to show you their appendectomy scars or pull off their socks at a party to show you their bunions. These are not the sorts of things anyone wants to see -- digitally or in person. As for the person who over shares about colds, allergies, aches and pains, be warned: These are the just the kind of status updates that convince me to hide you from my news feed.” Sorry, it’s hard to muster sympathy for your runny nose (especially if you make us look at it!).