Social media is one of the most widely used tools in the world today. People everywhere use it for a variety of reasons, from connecting with others who share similar interests to staying informed about global events, economic trends, and developments that affect us as individuals and as a society.
As social media continues to shape the future in numerous ways, it also influences users who turn to platforms like Twitter (now known as X), TikTok, YouTube, and others to promote their businesses, share their art, or showcase their writing. These platforms expose users to various styles, including clothing aesthetics and artistic approaches. However, while posting content can be exciting and fun, it’s important to recognize that social media can either boost confidence by providing a platform to showcase work or, at times, feel intimidating and even harm self-esteem.
“Social media does help a little to get the writing out there because you know people are reading them and seeing them, even if they don’t interact on it,” said Serenity Brown, a 16-year-old who uses social media as a way to promote her work. “I never quite know what to expect whenever I post.”
Aside from social media giving you the freedom to explore your creativity and figure out what you prefer, it also allows you to meet other people whose interests are similar to yours. For example, Twitter–a social network site that allows you to send messages or tweets–is a platform that not only allows you to share your work with others but also allows you to search your interests and follow your interests under one hashtag. Other apps, such as Pinterest and Tumblr, use a similar process of connecting with other people around the world but in the form of photo collages and expressing your aesthetic.
However, even though posting on social media may be fun and exciting, waves of anxiety may hit as you press the post button. Even if some people who share the same interest as you may find your post entertaining and interesting, there’ll always be others who don’t find it as interesting or entertaining. This is true, especially if what you post doesn’t align with their interest.
“On Tumblr, I’m nervous because strangers will see the writing,” Brown said. “I’m afraid of my writing being judged or critiqued…or perhaps (met by) the wrong audience that dislikes the sort of writing that I do. I would rather have someone read it and scroll past, rather than someone reading it and commenting how much they disliked it.”
Worrying about hate comments might be one concern, but dealing with the algorithm can be another challenge. When posting on social media, you might expect your post to go viral, anticipating that many people will see and like it. However, the algorithm may not work in your favor, and your post might not receive the views and likes you hoped for. This is a common experience and has happened to many people. Over the years, numerous small creators with fascinating content often struggle to get significant views.
This is commonly known as a shadow ban; it is when your posts are not able to be viewed by others. This happens usually without the posters’ knowledge and eventually over time, they’ll notice how their views went down. This at times may be a problem for content creators since some content creators rely on apps such as TikTok to help them make money. If their content ceases and not many people view their content, likely, they won’t make as much money. However, with the TikTok ban pending, these people will likely have to move to a new platform.
“Honestly, I never expect any of (my posts) to go viral,” Brown said. “I’m surprised even one of my posts got a like because I don’t expect anybody to interact with it.”
