Principles and Personalities: Where Do You Draw the Line?

Today, I am musing on the principles versus personalities debate. Which should hold more weight? Do you follow trends and individuals without too many questions, based on reputation or your (fictional, real, or imagined) relationship status with people, or do you adhere to personal principles that guide you in setting boundaries in certain situations? Not trying to be judgy or critical of anyone, but the way the world is escalating daily, one needs to be stubbornly deliberate about just anything.

Faced with unfollowing your fave?

When a favorite influencer suddenly equated body counts with feminism and freedom, claiming it as evidence that she could do whatever she wanted, I realized that perspective wasn't for me. It made me question why any woman would strive so hard to fully live life with such intention and freedom, only to focus on proving to men that she can also engage in casual relationships. Choosing to reject or embrace body count should have a deeper purpose and meaning beyond proving a point to anyone. The influencer clearly had people on her side, but I know such principles and views are not for me. Also, that is okay because this is her life and her choice.

Everyone is entitled to their personal opinion

Social media platforms are avenues for creativity and connection, but there is no denying how interactions with and on the various platforms can impact mental well-being. These interactions define your cycle of influence. There are millions online who struggle to meaningfully and intentionally navigate the different platforms in making sense of life. The fight to forge awareness, deal with the dynamics, and find meaning from the myriad of perspectives is a constant battle. Have you ever wondered why you use specific platforms, engage with some accounts or posts, and ignore others? Where do you draw the line with content or accounts you follow?

When is it enough?

The social media terrain is constantly evolving, with new platforms emerging and existing ones adapting to keep up with user demands and preferences. As individuals scroll through their feeds, they are bombarded with curated images, lifestyle vlogs, and promotional content that showcase the lives of influencers who seem to live in a world of perpetual excitement and glamour. Such constant exposure can create an overwhelming sense of urgency to stay updated on the latest trends, whether they pertain to fashion, technology, beliefs, relationships, or even social causes.

Moreover, the algorithms that govern social media platforms often amplify this phenomenon by prioritizing content from popular influencers, making it increasingly difficult for users to discover original voices or niche interests that may resonate more deeply with them. As a result, many users find themselves mindlessly following the crowd, subscribing to influencers who may not align with their personal values or interests (if they have any), simply to avoid the feeling of being left behind or left out.

The pressure to belong

The ripple effect is a cycle of comparison (conscious and unconscious), where individuals measure their worth and happiness against the seemingly perfect lives displayed online. Additionally, the pressure to conform to these trends can lead to a superficial engagement with social media, where the authenticity of personal connections is sacrificed in favor of maintaining a curated online persona. The fear of missing out, often abbreviated as FOMO, becomes a driving force that compels users to participate in trends and challenges, even when they do not genuinely have an interest in these trends. The pressure births a disconnect from one's true self, as individuals prioritize the approval of strangers and the validation that comes from likes and shares over their own personal principles and passions.

Fear of missing out

Some days I scroll on social media platforms and question why I follow some accounts. Other days, I stumble on a post made by someone I follow, which leaves me with questions. At that point, it comes down to my personal principles and opinion about life in general. Once a line based on those principles is crossed, I have no patience to argue with a stranger online, and I will never become a troll. I just unfollow, mute, or block. Ultimately, my feelings or opinions don't really matter when people decide to post certain content on their page, and no one is obligated to follow anyone anyways.

Everyone with their faves

In the same way I scrutinize the accounts I follow or when a "no, please, thank you" post catches my attention, I also evaluate my social media interactions over time. I go back to review the content I previously put online, and possibly, being in a different mood can help me see things differently. This process of revisiting my past mood or interaction with something someone said or did not say often proves to be quite helpful on my journey of daily self-growth. When I first created the content or made a comment, chances are I was operating with a specific mindset, influenced by my emotions, experiences, and the context of that time. Going back helps me to question perspectives about life and those principles I have developed over the years that I live by. I have also grown to think deeply before i share anything or comment online (if i have to).

When every trend is the "IT" trend for you

Some days, I delete and move on. This is why I do not have such strong attachments to my social media accounts. I can delete an account and start fresh. I have grown, through my interaction with social media, to understand the importance of finding other avenues to create your community and put your content out there. Every other day, someone is dealing with account suspension, shadow banning, or an account that has been built for years gets wiped out. Hence, I started thinking of a webpage early.

Connecting outside social media

Now, let me get back to my thoughts on interacting with social media based on my personal principles. We may like to deny being influenced or how deeply the influence of people we follow online reflects in our daily habits and choices, but these things are real. That is why you find people consciously and unconsciously denying allegations about folks we admire and have religiously followed. We even demonize and e-gang up against people who call out our faves for the worst behaviors. It is easy to extend the grace of "innocent until proven guilty" to these people, who are, in many cases, strangers than we would to ourselves.

When you don't recognize how devoted you are as a follower

Many social media users tend to engage with accounts based solely on their follower count, considering it a measure of credibility. People often argue in the comment sections of celebrities and influencers who barely know them, yet hesitate to support someone they know who is just beginning to create content. This behavior indicates that many have been conditioned to think in a particular way about social media interactions.

It took me a while, but eventually, I defined signposts and boundaries for how I interact with social media platforms, the content online, and influencers. These principles enable me to identify when boundaries are crossed, and there is no hesitation in removing myself from those visual and mental spaces because it comes down to the principles, not the personalities or platforms. I can sense those red flags even with posts designed with the most complicated word salad or propaganda to trigger engagement. Someone once argued that "If you are reluctant to unfollow an account, maybe you have no principles guiding how you interact with social media in the first instance or signposts on how to know when a line has been crossed".

What are your principles?

Many people are quickly joining trends and bandwagons on social media without questioning their reasons for being there or considering whether these interactions benefit their personal or professional goals.