Putting Myself Out There
Posted in Perspectives, on May 23, 2024
Social media is a big part of our lives now, connecting us to friends and family while also giving us a place to be creative. For me, it's a great way to share my interests and thoughts. But when your social media account is followed mostly by people you know personally, it can be tricky to balance what you want to share with what they expect to see.
So much of it is about putting ourselves out there. Which can be obviously daunting, if not scary…
When I started using social media, most of my followers were friends, family, and people I know. Even now. They love seeing my everyday life—photos of my kid, the meals we (my wife) cook, or moments from my vacations. These kinds of posts are easy for everyone to enjoy because they are familiar and friendly, and non-pretentious. I believe, that is also what they’re constantly expecting. They want an outlet of other people’s lives. At some point, maybe they want to “gauge” how they are in their lives as compared to friends, and even family members.
The problem comes when I want to share something more personal or express my opinions. For example, when I express opinions on political matters, career, religion. While my followers love seeing my daily activities, they might not feel the same way about my views on different topics. Sharing opinions can make some people uncomfortable, and they might unfollow, block, or silently judge. This makes it hard to be myself without upsetting people I care about.
For me, sometimes, social media is also way to be creative. So much so that now I dedicate a few of my outlets solely for these. For example, on Instagram, I share street or travel photos that I take, or post videos on my travels on Youtube. I try very hard to stick to this, and be as neutral or as interesting as possible.
However, when I post something creative… sometimes, these posts will naturally include my opinions. Even if I try to stay neutral, my true feelings might show through. Or maybe, it’s a “slip of tongue” or “spur of the moment”.
This can create a challenge. Friends and family might feel uneasy if they don't agree with my views. They might unfollow or judge quietly, which can strain our real-life relationships.
Sometimes, these posts will naturally include my opinions. Even if I try to stay neutral, my true feelings might show through.
To manage this, I try to find a middle ground. I want to be true to myself and share honestly, but I also want to keep my social connections strong.
One way to do this is by having different accounts for different purposes. I can use one account for everyday updates and another for more personal or opinionated content. This helps set clear expectations. People who follow my creative account know they might see posts about a wider range of topics.
Another way is to be thoughtful about what I post on my main account. I consider how my posts might affect others and try to share my opinions in a way that encourages conversation rather than conflict.
However, this isn’t always possible — and I believe everyone should also appreciate that social media is also still an expression of oneself. Sometimes, they have to take it or leave it. In the end, social media should reflect who we are—complex, varied, and sometimes opinionated—because that makes our online presence real and interesting.