As a follow-up to my earlier post regarding my Instagram friendship with @soupbelly_atl, I wanted to expand on the significance of forming friendships with people through online platforms.
While I argue that I'm an introvert (though people love to argue with me that I, in fact, am not), I can be social when I want to. This can especially manifest itself when interacting in online platforms like twitter and Instagram. I already discussed my relationship to twitter last week, so let's look a little at IG...
I am not one to follow someone for the sake of it. When I first join Instagram back in 2012, I made it a point to not follow everyone I knew just because I knew them -- Facebook was a place to keep in touch, but Instagram was to engage with accounts I wanted to see. For the most part, I have stuck to that, though I have also let a few accounts in as a way to support small businesses or a few online personalities I admire. However, I still strive not to remain too passive in my consumption of these accounts.
Like most IG users, I am no stranger to the "like" button, and I will make a comment if I feel I have something to say (an occasional snarky comment, perhaps? or maybe a show of support, or an exclamation that a meal looks good or I wish I were on the same vacation). But what I really love is when I can engage with the account in a more personal way. I love to reach out to the author (that's how I'll refer to the account creator moving forward) through DMs (or direct messages to the uninitiated) to show my support, admiration, etc for something they post. I will do this for anyone, whether it's someone I already knew, or even if it's a total stranger. For me, the goal is to create a meaningful connection, to make a friend I might otherwise never meet. This doesn't always work -- sometimes authors receive dozens, maybe hundreds (or more) similar messages, and they might be overwhelmed; or, they might not be interested in replying to every random person who reaches out. However, there are times when you might surprise yourself!
Sometime last year, I started following an account called @defunctfashion to indulge in my enjoyment of fashion and culture. I don't even remember what I said at the time, but I somehow sparked a conversation with the author that drifted from the account itself to my time in Tallahassee...and eventually found out he was an FSU alum! The author lives in Colorado and is a fashion historian who runs a popular account with 70k followers -- what are the odds that this mostly anonymous person and I were actually at FSU close to the same time?!?!
In another instance, one of my yoga instructors recently started following me. Again, one of us commented on something familiar we recognized in the other's Instagram story, which led to a conversation that we were both Resident Assistants as FSU (though I had long graduated by the time she started). So not only did I respect and appreciate her for being my instructor and aiding in my wellness journey, but I also knew another 'Nole in ATL!
I'm sure I'm not the only one with stories like this (and I even have more to share someday), and I'd love to hear from people who have had made friendships through social media!
Thanks for sharing! That is really cool that you were able to connect with new people this way.
ReplyDeleteI have been a professional dancer/aerialist since I graduated in 2013 and I follow a ton of aerialists and dancers on IG. While I haven't been super active in commenting or DMing people on the platform, I have met a few of my favorite accounts in real life, either in a workshop/festival setting where I got to take a class or private lesson from them, or getting to see them perform in person. It has always been such a wonderful experience and every time their content lives up to the reality of who they are in "real life". Now I feel so much more comfortable leaving a comment or sending them a message to engage with them!
You have inspired me to reach out before meeting in person. I want to challenge myself to take that step and hope to make some new online friends so I can have some stories to share like this as well.
Abby, that's so neat that you have been able to meet your favorite accounts in real life -- honestly, I get freaked out doing that sometimes (like, I follow them because I admire their work, but what do I SAY?!), and it's definitely great that they live up to the reality of how they portray themselves. I get more excited meeting people like that than I would a celebrity, because I admire those who find ways to contribute to their communities (for example, the dance community you're a part of) in some way.
DeleteI'm so excited to hear how you continue to challenge yourself -- let me know how it turns out!
It's amazing to me how the Internet shows us time and again how small the world is. You're reminding me of some of my own stories of online and offline relationships. Think I'll blog about this tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThe world is getting smaller and smaller every day! I'm so glad this resonated with you, Vanessa, and I look forward to reading your post about it!
DeleteHi Ello,
ReplyDeleteI too have limited the amount of people I follow on Instagram. I think its easier to navigate when you don't have hundreds of people to comment and like their photos. That is amazing how you were able to make new friends with people using social media. I too have made friends through social media. I have some online friends who I feel closer to than in person friends. It is quite a different experience but I think its worth it.
Creative Educator, I completely agree -- the online friendships I've made have been so validating, and we've gotten to talk about things (hobbies, life stuff -- anything) that I might not talk about with other friends. I find it refreshing sometimes to have an outlet outside my normal social circle where I can bounce ideas or share other facets of my interests. Do you agree?
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