Social Media Burnout

Hello lovely readers. I apologise that I’ve left it so long again. Truth be told, I haven’t had much to tell you on the writing front. I hope you are well, despite the current dystopian times we’re in. Just remember that love always triumphs hate, and hope can survive in even the darkest of shadows.

Today, I would like to talk about social media, and how I’m finding myself a little burnt out.

I’m an odd one. As an introvert, I find socialising to be heavily taxing anyway. When it comes to real life, I completely shut down and become pretty much nonverbal when I have to deal with too many people. When I’ve hung out with the few “in real life” friends I have, I need a few days to recuperate before I’m ready to speak to them again. So, when it comes to social media, mere apps on my phone, why do I desire to keep track of so many people?

Well, the first and most important answer is simply that I have been blessed with finding so many online friends. Whether you’re a fellow Crow from the Quill & Crow murder, or another indie writer I found along the way, or even somebody I’ve met through my oversharing of hyperfixations, know that I adore you. I apologise that I’m not the best at keeping up my end of the communication, but I am very thankful that I’ve found kindred spirits in the cesspool of all these apps.

And the second answer? It’s one of my toxic traits, and I hate myself for even feeling this way, but despite being a shy and awkward introvert who can’t always communicate…I have this need for people to like me.

Which is completely stupid and unrealistic, I know. Not everyone is going to like me, I realise. I’m not everybody’s cup of tea. I’m volatile and turbulent and sometimes “too much”, so OF COURSE not everybody is going to like me..

But, when I have mutuals across three apps that don’t follow me on all of them (which is obviously fine, I’m not owed their presence on every single app and they in turn are not obligated to follow me) it does have me questioning “what have I done wrong?” when it happens.

Life seemed a lot simpler and I know I was a lot happier when I only had one app to keep track of. But I absolutely do not blame people for jumping ship when such tyrants are in control and change things and make these spaces not safe anymore..

So, yeah. I’m feeling very overwhelmed at the thought of a) losing people I care deeply about, and b) spreading myself thin across all these apps. Not that I really deviate in what I post, I pretty much copy and paste the same thing. Nobody is getting any different content from me, it’s all me.

It’s strange though. I am feeling overwhelmed, but at the same time, I’m also asking myself “why do you care so much?” Which..yeah, fair. If others aren’t stressing over the thought of losing me, maybe I should save my anxieties for real problems..

So…yeah.

I apologise, this wasn’t really a nice thing to read. Long story short, I have insecurities about people actually liking me and having to navigate all these apps is just fueling them. When in reality, I just need to remember that I ABSOLUTELY DO have people in my corner who care about me, who I care about in return. Hell, I’m sure everyone is feeling the strain of juggling all these apps.

Nevertheless, in spite of the burnout, I still want to keep track of my friends, so here’s a reminder of what I’m on and what I’m under:

X/Twitter – ladyxesphio

Threads & Instagram – soph_brookes

Bluesky – flannelqueen

That about wraps it up for today. Hopefully next time I’ll have something nicer to write about.

Soph, signing off!