Over the past few years, especially more recently, I have noticed a shift in people’s opinions and posting habits on social media.
I love blogging and creating content for my website. Sure, I can create social media posts, but it is not about fame or exposure for me. The people who want to stay connected with me and my work will always seek me out.
I am not saying I will never post on social media again. It has to be deliberate for me to post on there now. It has to have a purpose. Less is more.
I began this shift during the pandemic when I had a personal rule that any photographs or posts had to originate on my website before I could post them on my social media channels. This forced me to take a website-first approach.
Lately, I have stopped posting and sharing on social media. I do browse, but I am no longer posting content on social media. I have already archived and privatized my Twitter/X account. I am considering doing the same for the other social networking accounts I have. I do not want to delete my accounts, I want them to serve as something I did online for a period of my life.
I am more than another post in your feed. I want you to get to know me at a much deeper level. I believe that blogs and websites can provide that depth that social media can do in some instances, but rarely enough. It is one of the reasons why I believe you keep scrolling because you are constantly looking for information with more substance.
I also hope blogs take off because I feel we each can create unique communities that social media sites can only scratch the surface. A website or blog is a blank canvas where you get to decide how to design your site, what content is on there, and how it is displayed. You can learn a lot more about someone based on their design choices and how they go about displaying information on their site.
Social networks give everyone the same basic template. The only thing that changes is the posts, profile image, and header image. Blogs allow you to be more creative on your terms.
I love checking out people’s websites and blogs. Many have inspired me with my website and coding. And that is the fun part about running a website and blog. It is more than the content, it is the management and building something from a blank canvas.
Joe Gullo