A/N: As always, this post is opinion; insight I’ve gained through my own situations. If what I say resonates, awesome. If not, that’s awesome too. I’m not here to sway your opinons. I’m just here to share one, in case I have knowledge that help someone else on their own unique journey.
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I took time away from my blog this past year, but I’m jumping right back into it. I went through a lot on my socials in 2023, and not much has changed since that time. In many ways, the first five months of 2024 have proven to be even scarier when it comes to abuse seen online. Yet in terms of my own capabilities, I’m able to navigate through in a better, healthier, easier way. It all boils down to my personal growth. I have more refined intuition and a better sense of self. I no longer fold to the masses, and I no longer crumble when targeted by those who mishandle their power.
Below is a point I feel led to drive home, and it doesn’t necessarily only pertain to blue checks or subscriptions. Hell, I’m verified as well. Verification is often the starting point for many, though. As such, it’s where my own points start. I’ll trickle down from there.
The influx of AI-based content, combined with the number of bot-run accounts, provides enough reason to screen interactions more thoroughly than ever. A third glaring reason persists in the midst of all the technology, though: humans who sniff out all weakness by nature, and find ways to use it for gain. In lieu of reason three, I (humbly) share my POV: one of the riskiest things you can do on your socials is back someone’s posts due to follower count or desire to boost your own influence.
So many self-professed doctors and healers are weaponizing mental-health terms, and using opinion or personal bias as ironclad fact for all humans. They’re quickly gaining traction, and growing by thousands in next to no time, with tactics that “real life” abusers have been using on psyches for ages. Once their accounts start inflating, their egos follow suit. Positive attention (oftentimes) bolsters their god complex, and efforts switch over from seemingly helpful, to cultlike in delivery.
Anyone can be a “pro” at anything, in their own bio. Mentally unstable people, narcissists, predators, sociopaths, criminals, and worse maraud behind fake accounts daily. People with very dark, cruel hidden motives or personal agendas troll those who feel they’re in need of a teacher. Lots are skilled at head games. They prey on vulnerabilities, then spread their toxic thinking.
Even more importantly, lots are addicted to ego, and they couldn’t give a fuck about who they endanger online. If you stand in their way, they won’t hesitate to cut you down using false jargon against you; words that describe them, not you. They’ve mastered the advantages of calling others out for the figurative demons that plague their own damn souls. If they think they can shrink you and gain from your loss, they’ll definitely try.
Arguing won’t clear your name. Their numbers go up, and their bank accounts too, if they’ve reached monetization. The more you engage, the more push back they give. They also push their limits, to see just how far they can take things. I cannot emphasize enough how many use keyboards as weapons. And the gamble is high when you factor in issues like online mob mentalities.
Here’s where the “trickle down” comes in: a lot of the people who follow big, influential accounts are suffering from trauma and very much unhealed. Many have completely fallen into false realities, lost themselves to fantasies, and belive every word that they read. Many are searching – for what, they aren’t sure – and start to fill their voids with verbal junk being offered as fixes. Many will latch on to anyone else that validates a hurt and justifies troubled behaviors.
These people who are struggling are fed more fuel for fires already out of control. They’re being led by by people who are equally as damaged, but lying about their careers and degrees. These liars are using their pain as persuasion, instead of pursuing their healing. They’re dressing their lies up as cures.
I’ll say it again: one of the most risky things you can do on your socials is back someone’s posts due to follower count or desire to boost your own influence. Read what you’re agreeing with, sharing, and passing along. Check out who you follow, too. If messages change or dynamics start shifting… if you’re no longer comfortable… don’t be afraid to unfollow. So what if your numbers go down?
Ther are lots of great people online, and I’m not discounting everyone. Even on the great accounts, we won’t all agree on most things; on probably anything. If something or someone is resonating, by all means, keep boosting those stats. But wolves wear sheep’s clothing, and sheep blindly follow. Just because someone’s consistently viral doesn’t mean they’re valid, or that they’re who they claim. We need to tap into our own intuition, andalso need to heal ourselves. Healing looks different for everyone, and anyone telling you healing looks the same for all? They may be more harmful than helpful. You need to decide for yourself.
I recently saw – and adored – someone’s post which read “A little thing about me… if everyone else is doing it, I won’t be.” Grow yourself organically. Seek out authenticity. Don’t cave to pressure, be swayed by illusion, buy into delusions, or choose to keep mimicking people you wouldn’t trust offline. Enough in this world causes unneeded pain, and enough of this life is a fraud. We have to do our part if we have any hope of progressing. People aren’t paychecks or pawns, but they’re treated like both every day. Be the example and rise in your power without turning into a wolf OR a sheep. Just be yourself. We all need that.
An Inside-Out Existence 