You Should Block More People
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About a year ago, I was nervous, anxious, and damn-near hyperventilating every time I thought about talking in a video format (such as Tiktok, IG, or Youtube). Mind you, this wasn’t about me planning vidoes on these platforms, the emotions were uncontrollable just thinking about one day using these apps. Why? Because I kept envisioning people I semi-knew seeing my content. But the root of it was an all-encompassing fear of being seen by anyone.
Seeing that I now have a youtube channel, I post every day on TikTok, and I’m on the way to figuring out Instagram - you might wonder what changed. Strangely enough, I started blocking people and you should too.
Free Expression
My favorite people on social media, and I am sure yours too, are unabashed about who they are. Radical acceptance plus a vision for themselves are crystal clear to witness from their creativity and content. And that’s where it becomes evident that they did the work of figuring out how to navigate the fear of being seen and heard.
Life, whether on social media or not, is supposed to be a place for free expression and curiosity. But much of the time, we find ourselves reserved and afraid. One too many times you’ll see people argue with complete strangers online (whether to drive controversy or in defense mode) while not acknowledging those that support them most.
Blocking folks, those you think are holding you back, is one way to overcome the fear of being seen. By blocking or muting people who bring negativity or an unwanted watchful eye into your life - you’re prioritizing what matters most.
Think Long-term
I remember telling a friend my new strategy on dealing with not posting online or even going after certain opportunities, and they said there has to be a better solution. But by drawing it out and weighing the pros and cons, it was clear to us that my solution actually made sense. At least for now.
The trick is to remember that this is a temporary solution to an internal problem. At some point, I plan on unblocking almost all. Some I have muted and realized it will stay that way. But the majority are people that didn’t do anything wrong, and it wouldn’t make sense to block them forever (unless they’re actually terrible).
Funny enough, I love when people disagree with me civilly so I never block people out due to them challenging my beliefs or content. Healthy debate and respectful disagreement are important parts of any intellectual or social community. It’s crucial to recognize this.
So if you find yourself drained or discouraged by your social media feeds, don't be afraid to block more people. You don't owe anyone your time or attention, and you deserve to create a space that's supportive, uplifting, and enjoyable for you.
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