What Is Social Media For?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been thinking about a question that doesn’t have a single right answer: What is social media for?

The answer is different for everyone, and for me, it has changed significantly over time. It’s a question worth revisiting, to make sure we’re in the driver's seat of our own digital experience.

We all play two roles online: the consumer (the experience we have) and the creator (the experience we provide for others). Anyone who has ever posted a comment or shared a photo is a creator. But there's a deeper "creator" level where people are intentionally trying to build something: an audience, a business, a platform for their ideas. Have you heard of the "creator economy"? This is the role I have been consciously trying to step into.

When I first started on social media, my approach as a creator was basically imitation. I saw that Facebook was like a public photo album, so that's how I used it. It wasn't wrong. Not at all. But it wasn't an intentional choice. I was following a template.

My journey has been about moving from imitation to a more active intention. I've worked to build websites, to learn the language of different platforms from social audio to video, and to find my own voice as a creator who likes to learn and to teach.

This leads me to an insight on the pressures of the system. The algorithms often reward content that provokes a strong reaction. For those of us trying to build an audience, this creates a tempting path: create controversy to get clicks.

But I’ve also seen the downstream effect this has on us as consumers. When our feeds are filled with provocative content, it can stir up a lot of negative emotions and create an antagonistic environment, whether we're deeply involved or just casually scrolling. Social media is powerful and it is truly valuable to reflect on how we are interacting with it, in any role that we choose.

My goal now is different than before. As a creator, I want to help cultivate a team-oriented environment of mutual learning and encouragement. I want to inspire creativity. I want to prop people up. As a consumer, I want to curate an experience that is based on learning and genuine connection, not anger or distraction.

This is a journey, and I certainly don't have it all figured out. But I've found a lot of clarity and freedom in stepping back and moving from imitating what I see to intentionally choosing what feels right for me.

So, I’ll leave you with the same question I keep asking myself: What is social media for you, right now? The answer doesn't have to be permanent but having one puts you back in the driver's seat.

Until next time,

Dan Ryan