Social media ≠ the root of all evil.
Like money, religion or AI, social media is a tool – it is neither inherently good nor bad. And in order for it to become a net positive addition to your life, you must play both roles: the viewer and the creator. The real value comes when you’re contributing as much as (or more than) you’re taking in. But that’s no easy feat when apps are designed to make consumption feel like participation.
Algorithmic discovery (AKA a For You Page) is what I believe to be the closest thing to magic that exists. You can spend your time doing what you love, sharing your interests, and putting yourself out there, and people can affirm that through likes and comments, pushing you to keep going. It connects you to a community of individuals who share your interests – something that was never this easy or accessible before the FYP existed.
That accessibility isn’t just for creators with perfect lives – it extends to anyone willing to show up as they are.
I often come back to the phrase “there’s room for everyone at the top” especially when it comes to content creation. Even if you feel your life isn't interesting enough to earn likes or comments, chances are someone around the world will. Remember how growing up someone always said to you, be thankful for what you have, there's someone with less than you… this same lesson applies online. There’s always going to be someone who admires the way you live– if you’re able to capture and reflect it honestly through your content.
If it’s not obvious by now, I’m deeply passionate about social literacy and helping people tap into their creative side through content. Not for virality, but because I see it as a multidimensional art form. A means of self expression and connection that can actually make you feel more alive and help communicate (or figure out) your life’s purpose.
What vlogging has taught me in a short period
The act of vlogging (short for video logging, hi mom and dad!) is essentially gratitude in action. What might originally start from desire to gain virality, can quickly turn into something more meaningful. The process of planning your day, choosing what to capture, filming, editing – becomes a way of noticing the parts of your life you’re most grateful for.
Speaking from experience, vlogging helped me get out of some dark weeks in my life recently. It pulled me out of bed to get up and do something worth recording. Romantizing my life when nothing felt romantic about it at all. And in the act of participating in this art form, I realized just how much I had to be grateful for.
Documenting solo coffee walks to the east river in the budding spring sunshine. Recording myself cooking baked tofu stir fry just because it was something new to try. Actually noticing the attention to detail put into the landscaping of the local park garden.
Paying attention and tending to the minutiae of everyday life slowly and subconsciously started to rewire how I existed – quietly shifting my definition of happiness.
What’s funny is, after spending hours perfecting shots and weeks recording conversations with myself, I never even posted the videos. I realized I wasn’t making them for anyone else besides my future self. A reminder of the strength it took to get out of bed, pull myself together, and plan a day I hoped might seem interesting to strangers even when if I felt like a shell of a person.
And I believe not only did vlogging upgrade my day to day life, but it taught me to get over the embarrassment hump of hearing myself speak on camera. Watching my habits improved my speaking skills, and allowed me to know myself in a way I had never before.
No gatekeeping here
If you have yet to explore the expansive world of youtube vlogs (much better than tiktok vlogs imo), I would recommend spending some time watching any of the channels below. These are my favorite creators who I find authentically in touch with the world around them and have a gift for capturing the beauty in the flow of everyday life. And they might inspire you too to give vlogging a try – not for virality – but perhaps as an act of gratitude.
i absolutely loved this! and i relate to it so much xx
awh this is so beautiful and honestly reminds me how much I love making videos <3 thank you for including me in this <3