A thought-provoking discussion on how to keep Substack from becoming just like the social media platforms we came here to escape. I thought Threads was finally going to be safe social media space, and then it quickly descended into a high-school drama hellscape.
Your thoughts are valid, and I've had similar ones as more and more people flock to Substack, as video and audio get promoted more. These are conversations we should be having, because if we want to preserve the kind of culture that attracted us to Substack in the first place, we need to work to keep it that way. I'm pleased so far that for the most part, negativity and drama-mongerers are nipped in the bud, since people here just don't respond to it.
Appreciating your thoughts. It makes me think of a book: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. Social media and smartphones (among other things) are shifting how our brains work, how we interact (or don't), our motivation, our capacity for focus and deep thinking. It takes intention and effort for most of us to be aware and not fall into the reactionary, impulse-driven mode that the designers of these platforms are banking on. I see a trend in my clients of more and more awareness and discomfort with their use of social media and screens, while struggling to change their behaviors. I think more conversations about these topics are essential to create the digital and irl future that will nourish more than erode.
I'm new to Substack and hopeful that it will be a place to interact at deeper levels and to cultivate growth, connection, and curiosity.
I’m definitely inspired by it haha. I’m glad you read my post! I’m trying to find a balance where I don’t want to necessarily ostracise tech completely, while I also wanting to incite the relevant awareness that promotes an understanding of our own agency to catch these things instead of falling for them.
I've seen this idea of coming to Substack to find a "better" social media, but I don't relate to that and feel passive in this conversation. The only time I use social media is when I want to be entertained or when I want to record my own life. I don't like keeping a physical journal, and I can access my social account anywhere with my phone and the internet. To be specific, I watch things on YouTube and post short things on Threads. I've grown up with YouTube, but I feel distant from the culture. Similarly, I don't really know what's going on with Threads, I just show up and do my own thing, very occasionally scrolling through to find questions and thoughts that I want to respond to for fun (if I don't get tired out by the yelling first).
I've been aware of the complaint of reactionary content that people hold towards social media, but in response, I think I turned to avoidance and don't use social media as social platforms. It feels more like a solitary experience (which I am satisfied with). If anything, I'll send interesting videos to my friends via text and talk with them. That's as social as these platforms get for me.
That all said, I feel more compelled to comment and share my thoughts the older I've become (barely a few years older, haha), especially on Substack. It's the thoughtfulness and a display of willingness to establish community found in most users that encourages me. I think that this phenomenon is, in part, a phenomenon that needed the hellish evolution of other social platforms in order to exist: if not for these bad experiences, the bitter observation of these sites, we wouldn't feel compelled to be open and welcoming, and we wouldn't be wary of its traps/downfalls. We know the risks, we've seen the bad, so we want to encourage the good of it. I look forward to seeing similar conversations like this on this site because the whole Notes aspect still feels way too similar to Threads for me.
As to how to move forward... I don't know. I just want to engage as naturally as I can without the fear of being loudly misconstrued. I still feel stressed when posting comments and even just liking posts.
I use instagram the same way! Post pictures with captions about the memories so I can look back at all of it. It’s actually a really good interface like that.
I like your outlook of it, but don’t necessarily think that’s the case haha, still really cool to discuss this someday!
I hope Substack does let you grow out of your hesitance, and you keep finding encouraging community here :D If we are known to be thoughtful, kind, and cheer-leader like, I would like to keep it that way!
2. My take is let's avoid the culture of the fast disappearing reflex responses. Let's promote an evergreen culture of slower culture.
3. How to do on substack? Be more like Youtube. Less like X or IG. I find the culture and ecosystem of YouTube strangely supportive of long form, evergreen and generous comments.
Can we make Substack more like a YouTube for writing, less like a boutique version of fast social media? Yes.
Writers can by creating that culture.
Substack the platform can by improving discoverability, search and non-USA participation. And less focus on relocating 'mainstream' stars (eg Pamela Anderson) to Substack.
Follow how YouTube allowed unknowns to create many types of communities.
I feel you with your response for 1! It’s really hard not to crave validation in numbers when you’re on there haha.
Your YouTube reflection is so on point, it really is a more conflict free platform isn’t it? I love YouTube and long video essays, so I really hope we manifest your vision here on Substack!
Thank you so much for reading, and I really hope Substack lives up to the potential you highlight 🕯️📜
So many good thoughts! Thank you? How do we, and others, keep Substack from becoming too much like many other social media platforms? How do you keep a child being a child without succumbing to the pressures to become an adult? Picasso may have said it best.
"“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Adults need to continue to play more and work less, continue with child-like curiosity and wonder and express ourselves with our own brand of artistry. Write, paint, draw, dance, sing, design, plant, cook, walk, travel, read, dream and pay attention. Read the signs and celebrate.
Too much tech that dominates may be our undoing along with all the other crapola out there.
I hear you! I’m still in my 20s and even I feel like I don’t get time to be as free as I suppose people make your 20s out to be. I’ll definitely try to tap into mini Bakhtawar now that you mention though, while being mindful of how I do things in online spaces of course :))) thanks for the comment, and reading 💚
Whether in your 20’s or your 80’s time is a precious gift. We all have the same amount, until we don’t, so we make the most and best of it while we can. We may well be at different stages, early, middle, late and later. However, there are no guarantees how long any of us will be able before we are disabled. So, my friend, as you pursue what it means for you to be free and to exercise that in ways you find to be full of meaning and purpose, tap into what moves you most and immerse yourself in that.
I just shared a note, right before I read this. "Reflection of the moment. I’m so happy being a member of the Substack community. It’s a lovely, supportive, intelligent cohort of excellent writers. It made me think of how resistant I was to participating on Twitter, even before EM took it over. It was too mean-spirited for me, most of the time. It never fit me. This place? Like a glove, it fits. Like the softest, yummiest, comforting glove." I was barely ever on Twitter, but I'm still on FB, and Insta, wasn't interested in Threads. People are people, some are reactive, some aren't. Some are angry and feel privileged to vent on everyone. I'm learning to not get reactive in the face of someone who is. I'm sorry that happened. I haven't been here terrifically long, but I've never witnessed anything with even a tinge of meanness or agression. I'm in heaven on Substack right now. A smorgasboard of excellent writing and what feels like a collective of warm, supportive writers who seem to enjoy other people's success. I hope with all my heart that it doesn't devolve to something dysfunctional, but should that happen, I'll just keep doing my thing. Cheers!
Oh I definitely know what you’re talking about! And I think you find that to be your experience because you yourself are a mindful user on these platforms, which makes you align with those bubbles. I like to explore all facets of social media behaviour, so don’t get to stick to one space for long, if that makes sense :)) it helps me study the variety of social spheres that are fostered in different parts to use my academic background and find reasons and solutions for them ! But I’m so glad thats your experience, and i too hope Substack remains that way, hence the need to discuss this :DD
I really appreciate this post. You're absolutely right about the lovely bubble I find myself in. I don't doubt it for a moment, and really love finding myself in this place, after witnessing so much toxic behavior on the other social media platforms. My FB is a pretty peaceful place, too, until I start interacting with the greater audience in community groups. Then it can get downright divisive and ugly. I've no stomach for it, though I chuckle as I wonder if these negative people actually ever take a step back to see themselves through another's eyes. Sometimes I feel like all hell is breaking loose. Can't control the world around me. Just my own behavior and choices. Thanks, again!
A brilliant post, but too sleepy to discuss. For now, let's make the block button great again! By making it enough. Gotta preach adab and etiquetts of social media now.
A thought-provoking discussion on how to keep Substack from becoming just like the social media platforms we came here to escape. I thought Threads was finally going to be safe social media space, and then it quickly descended into a high-school drama hellscape.
Your thoughts are valid, and I've had similar ones as more and more people flock to Substack, as video and audio get promoted more. These are conversations we should be having, because if we want to preserve the kind of culture that attracted us to Substack in the first place, we need to work to keep it that way. I'm pleased so far that for the most part, negativity and drama-mongerers are nipped in the bud, since people here just don't respond to it.
Same, I’m quite glad how much restraint and mindfulness substackers show! It’s actually really nice haha, let’s hope we keep it this way :D
Appreciating your thoughts. It makes me think of a book: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. Social media and smartphones (among other things) are shifting how our brains work, how we interact (or don't), our motivation, our capacity for focus and deep thinking. It takes intention and effort for most of us to be aware and not fall into the reactionary, impulse-driven mode that the designers of these platforms are banking on. I see a trend in my clients of more and more awareness and discomfort with their use of social media and screens, while struggling to change their behaviors. I think more conversations about these topics are essential to create the digital and irl future that will nourish more than erode.
I'm new to Substack and hopeful that it will be a place to interact at deeper levels and to cultivate growth, connection, and curiosity.
I’m definitely inspired by it haha. I’m glad you read my post! I’m trying to find a balance where I don’t want to necessarily ostracise tech completely, while I also wanting to incite the relevant awareness that promotes an understanding of our own agency to catch these things instead of falling for them.
May Substack truly prosper in those ways!
I've seen this idea of coming to Substack to find a "better" social media, but I don't relate to that and feel passive in this conversation. The only time I use social media is when I want to be entertained or when I want to record my own life. I don't like keeping a physical journal, and I can access my social account anywhere with my phone and the internet. To be specific, I watch things on YouTube and post short things on Threads. I've grown up with YouTube, but I feel distant from the culture. Similarly, I don't really know what's going on with Threads, I just show up and do my own thing, very occasionally scrolling through to find questions and thoughts that I want to respond to for fun (if I don't get tired out by the yelling first).
I've been aware of the complaint of reactionary content that people hold towards social media, but in response, I think I turned to avoidance and don't use social media as social platforms. It feels more like a solitary experience (which I am satisfied with). If anything, I'll send interesting videos to my friends via text and talk with them. That's as social as these platforms get for me.
That all said, I feel more compelled to comment and share my thoughts the older I've become (barely a few years older, haha), especially on Substack. It's the thoughtfulness and a display of willingness to establish community found in most users that encourages me. I think that this phenomenon is, in part, a phenomenon that needed the hellish evolution of other social platforms in order to exist: if not for these bad experiences, the bitter observation of these sites, we wouldn't feel compelled to be open and welcoming, and we wouldn't be wary of its traps/downfalls. We know the risks, we've seen the bad, so we want to encourage the good of it. I look forward to seeing similar conversations like this on this site because the whole Notes aspect still feels way too similar to Threads for me.
As to how to move forward... I don't know. I just want to engage as naturally as I can without the fear of being loudly misconstrued. I still feel stressed when posting comments and even just liking posts.
I use instagram the same way! Post pictures with captions about the memories so I can look back at all of it. It’s actually a really good interface like that.
I like your outlook of it, but don’t necessarily think that’s the case haha, still really cool to discuss this someday!
I hope Substack does let you grow out of your hesitance, and you keep finding encouraging community here :D If we are known to be thoughtful, kind, and cheer-leader like, I would like to keep it that way!
Great post. My response to your questions:
1. Two bad habits of social media I fall into
- the temptation to make 'witty' barbed banter
- the need to get noticed
2. My take is let's avoid the culture of the fast disappearing reflex responses. Let's promote an evergreen culture of slower culture.
3. How to do on substack? Be more like Youtube. Less like X or IG. I find the culture and ecosystem of YouTube strangely supportive of long form, evergreen and generous comments.
Can we make Substack more like a YouTube for writing, less like a boutique version of fast social media? Yes.
Writers can by creating that culture.
Substack the platform can by improving discoverability, search and non-USA participation. And less focus on relocating 'mainstream' stars (eg Pamela Anderson) to Substack.
Follow how YouTube allowed unknowns to create many types of communities.
I feel you with your response for 1! It’s really hard not to crave validation in numbers when you’re on there haha.
Your YouTube reflection is so on point, it really is a more conflict free platform isn’t it? I love YouTube and long video essays, so I really hope we manifest your vision here on Substack!
Thank you so much for reading, and I really hope Substack lives up to the potential you highlight 🕯️📜
So many good thoughts! Thank you? How do we, and others, keep Substack from becoming too much like many other social media platforms? How do you keep a child being a child without succumbing to the pressures to become an adult? Picasso may have said it best.
"“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Adults need to continue to play more and work less, continue with child-like curiosity and wonder and express ourselves with our own brand of artistry. Write, paint, draw, dance, sing, design, plant, cook, walk, travel, read, dream and pay attention. Read the signs and celebrate.
Too much tech that dominates may be our undoing along with all the other crapola out there.
I hear you! I’m still in my 20s and even I feel like I don’t get time to be as free as I suppose people make your 20s out to be. I’ll definitely try to tap into mini Bakhtawar now that you mention though, while being mindful of how I do things in online spaces of course :))) thanks for the comment, and reading 💚
Whether in your 20’s or your 80’s time is a precious gift. We all have the same amount, until we don’t, so we make the most and best of it while we can. We may well be at different stages, early, middle, late and later. However, there are no guarantees how long any of us will be able before we are disabled. So, my friend, as you pursue what it means for you to be free and to exercise that in ways you find to be full of meaning and purpose, tap into what moves you most and immerse yourself in that.
I just shared a note, right before I read this. "Reflection of the moment. I’m so happy being a member of the Substack community. It’s a lovely, supportive, intelligent cohort of excellent writers. It made me think of how resistant I was to participating on Twitter, even before EM took it over. It was too mean-spirited for me, most of the time. It never fit me. This place? Like a glove, it fits. Like the softest, yummiest, comforting glove." I was barely ever on Twitter, but I'm still on FB, and Insta, wasn't interested in Threads. People are people, some are reactive, some aren't. Some are angry and feel privileged to vent on everyone. I'm learning to not get reactive in the face of someone who is. I'm sorry that happened. I haven't been here terrifically long, but I've never witnessed anything with even a tinge of meanness or agression. I'm in heaven on Substack right now. A smorgasboard of excellent writing and what feels like a collective of warm, supportive writers who seem to enjoy other people's success. I hope with all my heart that it doesn't devolve to something dysfunctional, but should that happen, I'll just keep doing my thing. Cheers!
Oh I definitely know what you’re talking about! And I think you find that to be your experience because you yourself are a mindful user on these platforms, which makes you align with those bubbles. I like to explore all facets of social media behaviour, so don’t get to stick to one space for long, if that makes sense :)) it helps me study the variety of social spheres that are fostered in different parts to use my academic background and find reasons and solutions for them ! But I’m so glad thats your experience, and i too hope Substack remains that way, hence the need to discuss this :DD
I really appreciate this post. You're absolutely right about the lovely bubble I find myself in. I don't doubt it for a moment, and really love finding myself in this place, after witnessing so much toxic behavior on the other social media platforms. My FB is a pretty peaceful place, too, until I start interacting with the greater audience in community groups. Then it can get downright divisive and ugly. I've no stomach for it, though I chuckle as I wonder if these negative people actually ever take a step back to see themselves through another's eyes. Sometimes I feel like all hell is breaking loose. Can't control the world around me. Just my own behavior and choices. Thanks, again!
I love your mindset, you’re absolutely right, we are the agents of our own behaviour!!
A brilliant post, but too sleepy to discuss. For now, let's make the block button great again! By making it enough. Gotta preach adab and etiquetts of social media now.