This past week, I’ve been working on something criminally insane in our digital world: I removed every single follower off my Instagram.
Yes, you’re seeing that right... My follower count now awkwardly but honestly sits at zero, and on my philosofounder_ page, and I intend to keep it that way. For the past 3 years, I've been grappling with the ways social media platform have rewired my understanding of self, connection with others, and value I capture.
We've inherited a social environment built on values revealed as simply what other people think about us. Our social values of finding a stranger credible have become, "followers" and “likes” as currency of worth and potential. On feeds, I feel encouraged to chase validation.
Most importantly, I am not a commodity. I am a human being with a love for genuine discovery and understanding, not transactional social engagements. Socializing feels like business now. The concept of having "followers" reduces all people online into the process of marketing yourself as a brand in all your content and consumption, which defeats the true purpose of these platforms. As many wise writers have said, we’ve become products with labels, our complex identities flattened into marketable categories.
I love love love the purpose of social media, and I will continue to post things because it's a great medium to share and archive eras of my life, my favorite music, memories, and things I’m interested in url to inspire action in my life— but the status quo rarely fosters genuine connection for me. And thus, I needed to liberate myself from toxic traditions that kept me from using platforms as they were meant to be used.
When you think about what you want to post how much of your time is spent signaling status versus truly sharing what you love, regardless of the "like" count? When present online, how much of your energy goes into surveilling the lives of others versus creating your own content and feed you love? In some ways, it reminds me of what Ayishat Akanbi said about digital group-speak, where our voices are outsourced to what performs well, not what feels true. I know what my answer is, and it was a wake-up call to do something differently with my online presence.
Ever since my senior year, I'd been searching for ways to rebel against this corrupting social system. I radically practice being, posting whatever and whenever I want, removed people I don’t want there, cut out social media from my life, and it all became a great filter. But those were all performance. Radical action was needed. So I’m done catering to people nor algorithm; I will participate and break rules on my own terms. My account will remain public, but it is no longer for sale.
It's all about liberation for me. Choosing quality over quantity, always. They can keep their infinite scroll. If you can relate to the things I share, the music I love, the opinions I have (or disagree with), and are nearby me—reach out to me add me in your orbit! I need connection that honors human complexity and invites vulnerability and understanding, not triggering bad mimicry that keeps me trapped in attention cycles and status competitions.
If your like me, we must be brave enough to live out our truths regardless of how others may feel: this is to leave ourselves unsolved for becoming, to resist categorizing every facet of our being, and being intentional with how we curate our digital worlds. Our true selves are mysteries for us to piece together and explore throughout our lives.
The call to action is not necessarily to delete all of your followers, but to reflect on what you're truly seeking being online. If you’re building a brand, step into that and market. If you’re selling a product, step into that and sell it. But if you’re just showing up as you to touch others and the world, then step into expression and relation no matter the cost.
Are you ready, to be?
#DontFollowMeFriendMe
Contact me at mackenziemichellefisher@gmail.com if you relate to any of this or would like to talk more!
Call Me: (864)-907-9757 - I don’t bite, and love convos so just do it man!
IRL: SF in South Park (lets get drinks/snacks, talk, and chill)
X as @philosofounder (girard 4 techbros)
Insta also as @philosofounder (mi vida loca)
Spotify as @mkhastaste (listening party?)
(in need of a new book/film app but I love those too)