The Social Media to Blogging Pipeline
Why the f**k did I deactivate social media, and why I started blogging in the first place!
If you know me, you already are aware that I make many decisions in my life on a whim. Deleting social media is one of them (not that the world revolves around my media presence). I figured I might as well rip off the band-aid and get it over with, before I come crawling back once again. I also feel that it is pertinent to explain my reasoning behind “yeeting-and-deleting,” because—if nothing else—I feel like it.
Originally, I was envisioning this post to be a profoundly introspective, rambling, and “poignant” piece about the ills of social media and the plague of narcissism. However, upon further reflection, I am deciding to cut to the chase: I keep getting sucked into scrolling and social media snooping because I’m shamelessly nosy and insanely distractible. I care way too much about the menial details in the lives of people whom I barely ever see, if I ever do. I find myself becoming personally invested in creators, reading into hot-button topics (which don’t matter in the grand scheme of things), and all of the fun, juicy and slightly taboo details that the internet in general has to offer. Or when my friends post something and I’ll take a look; and then I end up getting sucked into the void and suddenly four hours go by and I somehow ended up neck-deep in a barrage of virtue-signaling Instagram stories about the latest catastrophe on the news from acquaintances at best. Now, the issue to me isn’t social media itself, or necessarily the people whom I follow from “real life,” but rather its placating of my desire to connect with others in-person and wasting a sizable chunk of my leisure time that I could spend in a more positive way.
Though I would love to expand on my thoughts on the age of the internet (or anything, really), this brings me to why the f**k I made my Substack, and this website. Making a long story short, I have been journaling fairly consistently since I was in kindergarten (not joking. This is one of the few areas of life that I am consistent with); I have stacks of journals hidden in my closet. I've always felt the need to express myself, particularly in writing. Verbosity is something that I excel at, and I would rather write your ear off online (where it’s voluntary and you can click off at any moment) than talk your ear off in person. I also find that it is MUCH easier to feel connected to others when you take the time to go in-depth about your thoughts, feelings and ideas.
People always, always want to share about themselves; the issue is that they might not feel comfortable doing so first. On most things, I'm an open book, and if any of my friends find my writing (regardless of how close I am with them or how long I've known them for), I hope that they can feel more comfortable sharing themselves with me. Now, more than ever, we need connection, which stems from vulnerability and empathy; my writing will hopefully be a catalyst in my microscopic corner of the internet.
If I have thoughts that aren’t personal enough to be signed and sealed in my journal and that I personally find interesting or significant, I’ll write them here. I’ll upload cool photos, maybe do something interactive with you. I have the unrelenting urge to create, share and connect, and that is exactly what I intend to do going forward.
If you have made it this far, thank you: for hearing me out, for supporting me, for simply being here. I hope you’ll stick around.