Shunning Social Media Clout: How to Assure yourself (and others) of your Self-Worth

Although it's more difficult for some to admit than others, let's be honest, the accumulation of followers and friends on Instagram and FaceBook is a sure way to feel validated and socially ''seen.'' Millennials and Gen Z'ers are of course at the front of this pandemic, despite its subtle perceptions of shallowness or image of low self-worth. A school of thought that rejects the idea of amassing clout on social media is one that sees few loyal subscribers in our generation. This is the school of thought I've proudly subscribed to for years and I'm here to tell you, if there's a trend truly deserving of going mainstream..it's this one.

To start off, shunning the quest for social media clout demonstrates a sincere authentic sense of self-worth. The more followers you seek to reach, are more opinions you hope to sway to believe in whatever image you're trying to portray. These ''self images'' are often a stone's throw from our true selves. Rejecting this quest is the best way to avoid entrapping your self-worth being dependent on a number of followers. True self-worth comes from an internal and intimate understanding of oneself, not from the approval of others. It's a basic concept that all grasp, but one that seems to be rarely practiced among a generation that suffers unusual high rates of depression and insecurity. The sooner you're able to sever this toxic relationship between clout and self-worth, the sooner you enhance your confidence and sense of your own identity. So build a brand that doesn't rely on high follower count, and it'll be far richer than those whose followers number in the thousands.

Second, abandoning the goal of gathering as many followers as possible frees you to produce content that's of greater quality. In exchange for quantity of followers, you get a more valuable opportunity: focusing on your social media content and its value. So many Instagram accounts that hold thousands of followers often have posts that blur together, indistinguishable from one to the next. These posts contribute neither creativity nor original content to the account, but rather seek how many likes the creator can count. By doing this you rewire your mind to seek validation from strangers you'll most likely never meet. It's nothing more than a hollow endorsement that promises no lasting sense of self-worth. So don't set a goal for the amount of likes for every post you make, and produce content that holds genuine quality.

Third, once you master the art of rejecting clout on social media, your self-esteem will have improved beyond measure. You'll have a greater sense of clarity for your own identity and can pursue interests that don't involve seeking praise or approval. Your passions and interests won't be tied to trends and similar trivial things, they'll be your own. The pursuit of whatever passions and hobbies you may have can sometimes require a degree of confidence to delve into. After all, not all passions are seen as ''insta worthy.'' However that shouldn't stop you from developing them as much as you desire. I'd even wager that the more passions and interests you pursue that aren't connected to some form of advertisement, the more they'll become a part of who you are.

Fourth, and my most controversial take on all of this, is my belief that the core of the relationship between clout and self-worth centers around a kind of inferiority. It takes a sense of inner inferiority to crave large amounts of followers on social media platforms. To reassure yourself through the validation of others is a weakness that we all should seek to eliminate. It only debases your sense of self-worth and reduces your chance of acquaintance with true self-esteem. It's a bit of a harsh take, but one intended to strongly motivate the separation of identity from the opinions of outsiders. True confidence doesn't befriend outside approval. It's a monogamous relationship that you can have with yourself.

Now none of this is to say there aren't any content producers who've gained masses of followers who've come to genuinely admire their work, nor that those same content producers aren't portraying their authentic selves. But then again, most of us aren't swimming in followers of hundreds of thousands. There are however, a great deal of us that strive to reach such heights by pandering to whatever trend or fad that's currently in the Insta or TikTok spotlight. This is the source of much of the self-esteem crisis that plagues our generation, and it needs to be called out..