What I've Learned from Social Media 

Before I studied for my certification in social media marketing, and before I actually started investing time into my social platforms, I used to think “it can’t be that hard, right?”. As a society, we tend to have a love/hate relationship with social media. One moment we talk about hating how glued we are to it and next thing we know we sprint to it for the latest news, trends, and memes. These online platforms have dug deep into our daily lives and made a permanent home there, so why not take the time to learn and reflect on it? 

Here are 5 lessons I’ve learned in my time using social media for the blog, organizations, and personally. 

It’s not an easy gig: 

You may not think about it, but the time and effort that goes into effectively running a social media channel (or multiple) is not an easy job. While studying how to use social media for marketing, I learned about how to build and use a social media strategy to work towards set goals, I practiced collecting and analyzing data to evaluate progress towards those goals, and I researched creation methods to make the best content for my platforms. 

Effectively running a social media account requires a large tool box that needs constant maintenance. Needless to say, it can be exhausting! 

I learned a lot about true friends: 

Starting my blog was a terrifying leap of faith. I was scared of potential judgment and failure. I was nervous people weren’t going to enjoy my content. I was worried that the audience I believed was out there was only in my head. 

After a lot of prayer and working up the courage to go for it, I decided to move forward with my blog. It decided it was a mix of what I love: content creation, writing, and sharing experiences. Eventually I realized that if “friends” were going to judge me for my blog, well then I guess they weren’t friends to begin with. 

The ultimate reality in this lesson was coming to terms with choosing myself and my aspirations and making sure I didn’t (and still don’t) fear to take over. 

Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s okay. 

Social media can be harsh. There’s no face-to-face interaction which makes it easier for people  to be blunt. Reminding myself that not everyone is going to like me or my content, and that it’s okay, helps me continue creating with my vision and mission in mind. 

Myself, my story, and my creations will reach the people they’re supposed to. It’s out of my control. 

Reality v. Entertainment

Not everything you see on social media is reality. Are there some real moments? Of course. Are all videos online reality? Absolutely not. Content creation, both photos and videos, takes lots of planning and editing. You would be surprised how easy it is to manipulate reality within a few minutes of using an editing tool. This only makes it easier to appreciate the real moments. 

If you find yourself comparing yourself and your life to photos and videos you see online, take a moment to remember that there is a very big difference between reality and entertainment. 

You have to take a break: 

Using social media and the internet can be fun, relaxing, and entertaining. However, it can also be draining, exhausting, and hurtful. Social media should be a place for you to express yourself and connect with others. If you feel yourself dreading it, then it may be time to take a break. There is a fine line between healthy use of social media and the toxic use of it. Walk that line with caution and allow yourself to take a step back to just bask in reality. 

This also pairs with the idea of not living through social media. There is a whole world out there, go enjoy it!