A few days ago, an Insta-famous (instagram) model named Essena O’Nille came out on YouTube and basically told the “truth” about social media where she shared her views on her online life and talked about the negative impact all of it had on her real life. I was actually very moved by the video. The actual video where she shared her views had since been removed but I was able to watch it when it first went live and have to say that while I do agree with a lot of things Essena mentioned, I also disagree on a few points as well. So without more filler text, let’s get right into it.
First of all, in my opinion, “Social Media” is what you make of it. It can be a very competitive/challenge/fulfilling/fun/exhausting experience but it all goes back to what you make of it. Overall, I do NOT agree that Social Media is all negative.
These are the points I agree with Essena on:
- You CAN get addicted to social media: Once you find yourself constantly checking on your numbers, refreshing photos for likes/comments, looking at other people’s online life and letting it consume your mind – it is a very good idea to take a step back and really evaluate what you are doing/thinking.
- Social Media can get very completive: It is not only hard, but also nearly impossible to not compare yourself to others in your field. At the end of the day your competition is 10000% with yourself. The sooner you learn this, the quicker you will grow as a person along with your social media.
- Very long/exhausting/lonely work life: People who are not content creators simply do not fully understand how much work/patience/ motivation goes into doing YouTube/Blogging full time. You are constantly working. 24/7 and have no manager overlooking your work. It is not all glam; it’s truly a hustle and a lot of hard work. You are also working in isolation most of the time which can also be very difficult for some people to adjust.
The points I don’t agree with:
- Everyone is fake: That is simply not true. I have met some amazing people through YouTube/Social Media who are exactly how you see them (if not better) in person. They have families/friends and are normal people like you and I. They are showcasing a very small part of their life online and which just so happens to turn into a following/career. Just because a small portion of people who Essena came into contact with turned out to be “fake”, I really don’t think it is right to generalize it.
- All posts/videos are paid for: Let’s be 100% honest. When you have a following on social media, you are going to get products sent all the time. Companies send products to bloggers/YouTubers to promote their brand but that does NOT mean that every product used in videos/posts are endorsed or compensated for. If that were the case, all online creators would be making a LOT of money. In my opinion, if sponsorships are done tastefully (meaning a couple of videos a month) or if you get paid for a product you genuinely love, there is nothing wrong with that.
- Social media ruins lives: I am being a bit dramatic here but just trying to make a point that I have seen people who had NOTHING become something huge because of their passions – perfect example is Jaclyn Hill. She always talks about how she barely had money to pay rent and look at her now! She is so talented and is making a living doing what she loves. That would not have happened if Social Media were all negative. Social media gives amazing opportunities and again goes back to what you make of it.
I apologize for the length of this post but I just wanted to share my thoughts on Essen’s video with you all. If you are looking to get into any sort of Social Media, please do weight out the pros and cons but from my experience, YouTube and Blogging is amazing and I encourage you all to take a leap if you have any interest at all.
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