How I Use Social Media in Ways that Energize and Inspire Me

Note: This was originally written January 8, 2023 and was published on February 8, 2023.

This past month, I had the goal of disclosing more of my tech and personal (especially vulnerable) sides online. Why? Well, so many people knew me for dance or exchange, but no one knew the other sides of me. There were parts of me aching to be connecting with and acknowledged that just weren’t, and it was because I wasn’t showcasing that part of myself.

To be frank, I was afraid. I was scared that sharing about my interest in product management would make me look like a “keener” or like I was using the platform as another Linkedin. I was scared of being seen as “just another one of those kids” who adopts other people’s values and goals as their own because they lacked individual thought. And yet, at the same time, I wanted to talk to people about those things; I wanted to ask for recruiting help, find people to do mocks with, and share our collective struggles.

In a momentary act of courage, I posted on my story that I’m looking for “accountability buddies" and listed out several topics I’m interested in — product management, journaling, self-development to name a few. To my surprise, many more people responded than I expected (I thought only 3 people would respond, but there were 15+ responses). Sure, some people only responded because they thought my habit tracker template was cool, but many people actually shared similar interests and wanted to help each other make progress. I discovered new people who I could potentially learn from and bring into my circle.

So what does this tell us about social media?

Social media, like any other tool (e.g. fire, knowledge, money), can be used for good or for bad. It’s in the duality of it that gives it so much power.

I used to use social media as a way to distract myself — from myself, of course. I didn’t want to admit brutal truths to myself that I was being lazy or feeling tired, so I used social media as a mental health “break” to re-charge. However, in those cases, scrolling on Instagram would always leave me feeling more drained than anything. I was tired of seeing other people living better lives than me with more freedom, money, and security. I was tired of feeling insecure after seeing model after model posting their skinny S-figured body lines on the app.

But since the latter half of 2022, something changed in the way I used social media. As I had less and less time to scroll on the app due to exchange and travelling, social media became more of a way for me to get quick bits of information — key updates on close friends lives, new ideas for cafes to explore, and trending places to eat.

More than that, social media eventually involved into a way for me to tailor the algorithm. By being intentional with which posts I liked and saved on Instagram, I was able to tailor the content I saw into that which enriched me as a person. Usually, this consisted of self-reflection questions, affirmations, and reminders in friendships and relationships.

I sorted all this content into different folders on Instagram, and while I never really looked back on these folders, the act of categorizing such content into folders has helped me see social media in a more positive light.

Through social media, I have been able to be inspired both creatively, personally, and professionally. From posts about tools used by PMs, to questions for reflection at the end of the year, modifying my use of Instagram has built in a source of inspiration in my daily life in a way that’s easy and digestible.

Social Media as a Way to Build Vulnerability

Another way that I have found social media to be useful is through sharing vulnerable stories. Like I said in the beginning, I wanted to share more of who I was holistically, not just my dance and exchange sides.

Recently, I took a leap by sharing “A Letter to My Younger Self,” in which I basically shared all of my insecurities as a kid and admitted that I should have loved myself more back then.

More people reached out in response than I thought, and it showed me just how collective the human experience is in doubting ourselves, seeking assurance, and missing the mark of loving ourselves as the way we are.

All this is to say that, the more sides of ourselves that we share (whether offline or online), the more sides people have a chance to connect with.

Sharing my insecurities online has helped me feel not only less alone in facing those insecurities, but also more empowered in overcoming them knowing that I have a team behind me. It has helped me build self-respect because when I take the leap to put myself out there, I respect how I valued the benefits more than the costs enough to take a chance. I respect how I acted upon my values of connection and authenticity.

On Costs vs. Benefits

In the worst-case scenario, people think I’m a fucking clown. Okay, great. People who know me for real though, probably know that’s not the case. While on the other hand, sharing my story online has benefits of potentially bonding me with new people or reconnecting me with old friends who share similar values. This has been true for most of my cases: people have replied to my Instagram stories saying how they resonated with what I wrote about and how I phrased things.

The result? I’m able to portray a more accurate picture of who I am to people who care (or are interested in caring). By showing more sides of who I really am, people who are interested in learning more about me will continue to engage in that content until they reach the point that they’re so interested, they can’t help but reach out and connect. At that point, you’ve gained a new person to talk to and connect with about your story. You both mutually feel more understood as people, and you’re able to bounce ideas off each other about your feelings and how to overcome your struggles. You feel more like you belong — and that belongingness furthers you to seek more self-actualization and building of community.

How to Build Your Community Through Social Media

Ultimately, while you can’t change what other people are posting on social media nor how certain content makes you feel, you can change how you react to it and your subsequent actions.

Will you choose to endlessly scroll on social media with no intent, or will you choose to pick when, how, and why you use it? Such decisions, while seemingly miniscule, can actually influence who you become next.