I also feel like I’ve been chronically online since a preteen. AIM to xanga to myspace, even neopets had its turn (my neobank is still fat lol). And for me, it feels like I’ve grown up comparing myself to others. Like performing is all any of us are doing and I’m not even doing that right. I’ve dumped so much of myself into social media, through writing or musing or photos, that now I get frustrated, and I almost get angry, when I try to “create” or write.
Is that what I’m doing? Or am I just always trying to fit in? Sometimes I don’t have the words anymore because it’s been so long since I’ve felt “seen” or understood when social media is so saturated with people who get a bigger audience than I do.
And IRL, I don’t want an audience for my emotions. I hate it. So why do I crave it online with strangers and long-distance friends?
After this post, I feel a real kinship with you. I feel close to tears thinking about how we’ve grown up this way and how it helps and hurts.
ooooooof. This hits hard. I so feel you on so many levels! Also yes to neopets LOL! I think comparing ourselves to others has been a hard thing to suffer through in the mix of all of these social medias that we got exposed to young, I wonder what it will be like for the younger generation? And yes! I am still trying to unpack why online feels more comfortable for my emotions versus in person though maybes thats likely to do with bullies etc and online felt like a shield? Anyway, thank you so much for reading. I am so glad im not alone in these thoughts!
Can relate so well to this post. I remember being on MySpace since the fifth grade! And then tried Facebook but couldn’t understand it. Landed on twitter and used it regularly since the eighth grade! And now I’ve joined threads at 27. Really begs the question who would we have become if we hadn’t been chronically online from a very young age!
yesss! and I wonder what its like for the younger generation? I actually just saw a tiktok about the "tablet kids" like I guess referring to herself as someone who grew up using a tablet and now has withdrawals when a phone or tablet isnt in her hands! thank you for reading!!
I also feel like I’ve been chronically online since a preteen. AIM to xanga to myspace, even neopets had its turn (my neobank is still fat lol). And for me, it feels like I’ve grown up comparing myself to others. Like performing is all any of us are doing and I’m not even doing that right. I’ve dumped so much of myself into social media, through writing or musing or photos, that now I get frustrated, and I almost get angry, when I try to “create” or write.
Is that what I’m doing? Or am I just always trying to fit in? Sometimes I don’t have the words anymore because it’s been so long since I’ve felt “seen” or understood when social media is so saturated with people who get a bigger audience than I do.
And IRL, I don’t want an audience for my emotions. I hate it. So why do I crave it online with strangers and long-distance friends?
After this post, I feel a real kinship with you. I feel close to tears thinking about how we’ve grown up this way and how it helps and hurts.
ooooooof. This hits hard. I so feel you on so many levels! Also yes to neopets LOL! I think comparing ourselves to others has been a hard thing to suffer through in the mix of all of these social medias that we got exposed to young, I wonder what it will be like for the younger generation? And yes! I am still trying to unpack why online feels more comfortable for my emotions versus in person though maybes thats likely to do with bullies etc and online felt like a shield? Anyway, thank you so much for reading. I am so glad im not alone in these thoughts!
Can relate so well to this post. I remember being on MySpace since the fifth grade! And then tried Facebook but couldn’t understand it. Landed on twitter and used it regularly since the eighth grade! And now I’ve joined threads at 27. Really begs the question who would we have become if we hadn’t been chronically online from a very young age!
yesss! and I wonder what its like for the younger generation? I actually just saw a tiktok about the "tablet kids" like I guess referring to herself as someone who grew up using a tablet and now has withdrawals when a phone or tablet isnt in her hands! thank you for reading!!