I've invested so many hours, so much energy into social media. I mean, seriously, I've helped brands grow to massive sizes, with some reaching hundreds of thousands of followers, across a variety of platforms over the past six years. I've got a knack for navigating the digital waves and dealing with the constant buzz that comes with the territory. But even with all that, I've started to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of social media platforms out there.
Every time a new one springs up (Threads is just the latest), it brings with it this familiar yet unpleasant sensation of worry.
Should I join? If I do, what content should I post? How do I get followers? Why do I even want to gain followers?
It's like this gnawing question of whether my current efforts are enough.
But there comes a moment of clarity when I remember what these platforms are supposed to be: tools. Tools for my work, my network, my interests, my passions. They're not meant to scare me or make my life miserable.
Sure, it's reasonable to ask if a new platform could potentially enhance my work or business. But it's equally useful to consider that maybe, just maybe, my presence on this new platform doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, and no, it's not life or death if I don't create a new account on this new platform.
Perhaps the best course of action is one we've known all along: touch some grass, figuratively and literally.
Meaning: spend less time on platforms, reduce screen time, enjoy the tangible world around us. This isn't just about Twitter or any one platform; it's about all of them. I've started to feel a pull to reduce my overall social media consumption and invest more in the relationships I already have.
Personally, I've found that there are few things more spiritually draining than having to strategize the best way to present myself on social media. Social media encourages you to adopt a flattened persona at a time when more of us just want to be authentic, multifaceted people. What's the point of gaining a million followers if the price is the loss of your soul?
There are now hundreds of social media platforms with at least a million users. And it's okay for you to be on just one or two. Or none at all.