The other day, I was watching a TikTok video that provides tips on how to make your account or videos more likely to get engagement. The woman’s advice was that if you’re going to post videos of you just talking, then make sure what you’re talking about has a message, or purpose. She advised that the reason people are not getting more numbers on their posts is due to just chatting for chat’s sake.

This made me think.

When I write, most of the time, I don’t necessarily have a point to make. At least, this is the case when it comes to this blog. At times, I do have a message or a purpose. Obviously, if I am publishing on a formal platform, I have to have a message. In my published works, I mostly have a purpose. Yet, a lot of what I post on social media or this blog is just random shares or momentary peering into my life. In general, I don’t really care if anyone likes it or wants to engage with it. With social media, I most definitely am not looking to go viral or make my living off of it. Instead, for me, it’s just a fun way to pass the time or participate in the greater online world.

Still, I wonder about why I, or really anyone, posts at all. For whom am I really sharing? If I’m totally honest, I would say it’s for me. I mean, I’m not really caring what others post. On a rare occasion, I might be fully engaged in another’s story or I might use it for research purposes–like looking for things to do in Barcelona while we are here. Overall, I post for myself and…to show others what I am doing, as if wanting them to “look at me and what I am doing!” I believe this is likely true for 99% of the real reasons people post on social media.

Absolutely, I am not judging it. It is the nature of social media. It is the way of the world and society these days. It is also a fun distraction to both share my content and view others’. Yet, like with all things, there is a balance. And, as with all things, I contemplate the activity deeper.

Does everything really have to have a message or a purpose? 

Of course, it doesn’t. If the goal is to go viral or to make a living, then sure. We must bow down to the demands of the audience for whom the post is performing as a way to generate the income or attention desired. This is basic economics. 

However, I would say for most average people who use social media casually, just posting what one wants is fine.

I am glad that I grew up at the start of the social media space. When I was teaching, I was definitely an early adopter of technology in the classroom, believing in the benefits of using it to engage, support, and promote learning. As I age and spend more time away from the education space, it becomes less important or necessary to my life. While I don’t aspire to be a luddite in any form, I do embrace more distance from much of the content that is out there. With so much negative posts or trolling comments, I cannot see the draw to “going viral” as it seems like an unnecessary disturbance to one’s peace and mental health. I take pride in the fact that I almost never see any political posts, nor do I see much that is complaining or inclusive of drama. Almost all of my posts are happy, focusing on beauty, calm, and enjoying life.

Sure, you might shake your head at me and think I’m walking through life with rose-colored glasses. And, I would agree–at least online. The real world is already full of its ups and downs, challenges to work out, issues to navigate. Why, then, would I also want to feed my brain passively with it from a screen and from people with whom I have zero contact? 

Anyway, that’s my message for this post–enjoy your online world fully with happy images!!

~T 🔥🐉♋️