This was such a good read and everything you said in here is so true. As an older gen Z i find myself caring less and less about being popular and just finding it more comfortable to not post. I’m starting to cherish my privacy more and realize that trying to keep up with staying relevant is a never ending task I don’t want to do anymore. I think TikTok is still the most friendly app, Instagram has become almost unbearable to be on and I might just delete it in the new year.
What a great read! I’ve been toying with the idea of deleting TikTok and have debated going back to YouTube but even that feels like it’s own rabbit hole. You pretty much said everything I’ve been feeling.
Honestly there’s something so bleak in that people are quitting social media in order to create content on social media about it; or maybe that flash of illusionary hope it signals is what’s bleak. Truly we’re living in a ‘if no one saw you post it it never happened’ world and I’m at once it’s a beautiful world that so many of us get to share what we create, I’m with you there. But totally feel this pain — I loved how you phrased it of “multi-hyphenate” identity — of being pulled in all these direction, fraying at those seams. It’s exhausting, feels like we put our heart and soul into what we create for the algorithm to tuck it away into the back pocket of oblivion. I really loved this, that final paragraph especially ♥️
This is genuinely the most accurate post I've read on this topic. 👏🏻 I am grateful that you've expressed SO WELL the internal conflict that social media presents for multi-hyphenate. I did take the plunge and erased my FB and IG accounts not long ago, and I am now trying to navigate the good, the bad and the ugly of this as a creative. Also, I must say, it's so refreshing to see all these videos of Gen Z´s deleting theirs!
It is a good thing that people are being honest with themselves again.
Volunteering to be an ad who creates for people to volunteer to consume is not a good life for the person selling, or for the person volunteering to be sold to.
There is more to life than to constantly sell or be sold to.
Life is more rewarding, more interesting, more beautiful, just larger than that.
Couldn’t have said it better. I started posting about my interest in running, gained a small following, now that interest has become something like “work” because instead of simply enjoying the run I’m thinking abt what a waste it would be to not make content out of it. Now I feel guilty or pressured to record instead of simply just doing and enjoying the act 😅 social media is exhausting - gift and a curse
So this is a question that’s vexed people who think about the Internet since the 90s, if you can believe it. I think the answer is “internet localism” — marrying physical place and the Internet. So you become the star of a scene, not a genre.
I LOVED this. First time I’ve seen anyone put one of the problems of existing and growing online so clearly, as a millennial at a certain point more of my life will have been spent with a digital footprint than the halcyon years that preceded social media. And it’s definitely impacting who I am becoming.
Such a great read and so relatable! I’ve been creating book related content on TikTok for the last 2 years and alongside working a full time job and trying to forge a career as a film maker/actor I’m finding myself burnt out and exhausted just thinking about making content for TikTok, especially when I feel like I’m not seeing any growth in my account. I’m trying to find ways to over come this. I’d never delete my account because it’s given me some amazing opportunities but I need to find a more manageable way of keeping up with the demand of posting everyday to stay relevant!
Really interesting, especially the point about the impact on Gen Alpha. Even today, given the pressure to monetise your hobbies, or create a certain type of content to appeal to the algorithm, it's difficult to determine what your true interests are. We at least were able to figure some of this out before social media, but I wonder what will happen for those whose whole life will be shaped by what performs best on socials.
This was such a good read and everything you said in here is so true. As an older gen Z i find myself caring less and less about being popular and just finding it more comfortable to not post. I’m starting to cherish my privacy more and realize that trying to keep up with staying relevant is a never ending task I don’t want to do anymore. I think TikTok is still the most friendly app, Instagram has become almost unbearable to be on and I might just delete it in the new year.
What a great read! I’ve been toying with the idea of deleting TikTok and have debated going back to YouTube but even that feels like it’s own rabbit hole. You pretty much said everything I’ve been feeling.
Thank you for reading!! Appreciate it 🥹
Honestly there’s something so bleak in that people are quitting social media in order to create content on social media about it; or maybe that flash of illusionary hope it signals is what’s bleak. Truly we’re living in a ‘if no one saw you post it it never happened’ world and I’m at once it’s a beautiful world that so many of us get to share what we create, I’m with you there. But totally feel this pain — I loved how you phrased it of “multi-hyphenate” identity — of being pulled in all these direction, fraying at those seams. It’s exhausting, feels like we put our heart and soul into what we create for the algorithm to tuck it away into the back pocket of oblivion. I really loved this, that final paragraph especially ♥️
Being your own self is the best thing you could do on social media. People look for authenticity, they're tired of fitting into categories everywhere
Thank you for taking the time to give words to these feelings so many of us in this space continue to have. Great, great work here, Erifili.
Landon
This is genuinely the most accurate post I've read on this topic. 👏🏻 I am grateful that you've expressed SO WELL the internal conflict that social media presents for multi-hyphenate. I did take the plunge and erased my FB and IG accounts not long ago, and I am now trying to navigate the good, the bad and the ugly of this as a creative. Also, I must say, it's so refreshing to see all these videos of Gen Z´s deleting theirs!
Thank you!! It’s the multi-hyphenate struggle. 💔💔
It is a good thing that people are being honest with themselves again.
Volunteering to be an ad who creates for people to volunteer to consume is not a good life for the person selling, or for the person volunteering to be sold to.
There is more to life than to constantly sell or be sold to.
Life is more rewarding, more interesting, more beautiful, just larger than that.
Couldn’t have said it better. I started posting about my interest in running, gained a small following, now that interest has become something like “work” because instead of simply enjoying the run I’m thinking abt what a waste it would be to not make content out of it. Now I feel guilty or pressured to record instead of simply just doing and enjoying the act 😅 social media is exhausting - gift and a curse
So this is a question that’s vexed people who think about the Internet since the 90s, if you can believe it. I think the answer is “internet localism” — marrying physical place and the Internet. So you become the star of a scene, not a genre.
Ah thank you for reading! This is really interesting
felt this is my soul. such an eloquent piece on something I feel like so many of us are experiencing ❤️❤️
Thank you Ayan!! Means a lot 🥺♥️
Love reading thisss
I LOVED this. First time I’ve seen anyone put one of the problems of existing and growing online so clearly, as a millennial at a certain point more of my life will have been spent with a digital footprint than the halcyon years that preceded social media. And it’s definitely impacting who I am becoming.
thank you for reading!! absolutely feel this. i'm glad it resonated!
I am so tired of my “personal brand.” I no longer want a brand. I just want to be me.
Such a great read and so relatable! I’ve been creating book related content on TikTok for the last 2 years and alongside working a full time job and trying to forge a career as a film maker/actor I’m finding myself burnt out and exhausted just thinking about making content for TikTok, especially when I feel like I’m not seeing any growth in my account. I’m trying to find ways to over come this. I’d never delete my account because it’s given me some amazing opportunities but I need to find a more manageable way of keeping up with the demand of posting everyday to stay relevant!
Really interesting, especially the point about the impact on Gen Alpha. Even today, given the pressure to monetise your hobbies, or create a certain type of content to appeal to the algorithm, it's difficult to determine what your true interests are. We at least were able to figure some of this out before social media, but I wonder what will happen for those whose whole life will be shaped by what performs best on socials.
ugh the exhaustion is so real