James Fitzgerald Therapy PLLC

Social Media Platforms

Listening to Influencers or Becoming One: A Creative Pathway for Health and Wellness

Social media has transformed how we interact with each other, share experiences, and seek inspiration on a global scale. One of the most exciting developments in this digital age is the rise of influencers—individuals who effectively harness the power of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Substack to share their stories, promote wellness, provide education, and build vibrant communities. These influencers often curate their content to resonate with their audiences, creating a sense of connection and belonging that transcends geographical boundaries. For many, following influencers or even becoming one themselves can serve as an empowering adjunct to traditional therapy, enhancing mental health, creativity, and personal growth in unique and often unexpected ways. By sharing authentic experiences and insights, influencers not only inspire others to embrace their journeys but also foster conversations around personal challenges and collective aspirations, leading to a more supportive and engaged online environment.

Engaging with influencer-created content can offer several therapeutic benefits. Listening to inspiring podcasts or watching uplifting videos regularly can help individuals feel more connected and less isolated, especially during challenging periods. Studies suggest that exposure to supportive, relatable narratives shared by influencers can reduce feelings of loneliness and increase self-compassion, validating personal experiences and encouraging emotional healing (Kim & Kim, 2021). Furthermore, influencers who openly discuss mental health can help reduce stigma, normalizing the conversation around topics such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and self-care.

Choosing to become an influencer yourself, whether through blogging, podcasting, or posting regularly on platforms like YouTube or Instagram, also offers substantial mental health benefits. Creating online content can serve as a creative outlet, allowing for personal expression, authenticity, and self-reflection. Research highlights that creative activities promote mental clarity, emotional regulation, and increased resilience against stress (Forgeard & Elstein, 2014). Additionally, sharing your experiences and insights can reinforce personal accountability, motivate positive behavioral changes, and strengthen a sense of purpose and community.

Despite these advantages, both consuming and producing social media content require discipline and careful balance. Developing a consistent habit of listening to podcasts or regularly creating your content can be challenging, particularly when daily stresses, work commitments, and responsibilities demand your attention. Motivation and commitment are key. It’s helpful to integrate content engagement into your daily routine gradually. Setting realistic, achievable goals, such as dedicating just ten minutes each day to listening or creating content, can be a powerful strategy. Recognizing small successes and maintaining flexibility in your routine can significantly enhance motivation and sustainability.

For aspiring influencers, various platforms offer distinct advantages that cater to diverse content styles and audience preferences. TikTok thrives on short, dynamic videos ideal for quick engagement and broader reach, especially among younger demographics, who are drawn to trends and viral challenges that can spark creativity and boost exposure. Instagram and Facebook provide visual storytelling opportunities and extensive community-building tools through captivating images, short reels, and live interactions, allowing creators to connect deeply with their followers and maintain a consistent brand presence. YouTube is excellent for detailed, longer-form content, enabling deeper exploration of topics and stronger audience connection over time with its interactive comment sections and the ability to create playlists that keep viewers engaged. Additionally, Substack supports writers and thought leaders, empowering content creators through newsletters, podcasts, and community forums, allowing more control over monetization and audience engagement, while fostering a sense of belonging among niche audiences who appreciate in-depth discussions and personal insights shared by their favorite creators. By leveraging these platforms effectively, influencers can craft unique identities and build meaningful relationships with their audiences.

Online resources and platforms such as Skillshare, Udemy, and even influencer-created guides on YouTube or Substack offer invaluable insights into content creation strategies, audience engagement techniques, and ways to maintain your authenticity and mental wellness while pursuing influencer activities. By leveraging these platforms, aspiring creators can gain access to tutorials that delve deep into the nuances of storytelling, visual design, and effective marketing tactics, which are essential for growing an online presence. Additionally, many courses emphasize the importance of understanding analytics and feedback to refine one’s approach, ensuring that content resonates with the target audience. Furthermore, engaging with community forums and support networks available on these platforms provides a sense of camaraderie and shared experience among creators, which is vital for overcoming challenges in this competitive digital landscape. By integrating these learnings into their practices, influencers not only enhance their skill set but also foster a more holistic approach to their online ventures, prioritizing both professional growth and personal well-being.

However, engagement with social media and influencer culture is not without risks and criticisms. Excessive screen time, which has become a pervasive aspect of modern life, can lead to negative physical and mental health outcomes. Unrealistic social comparisons fostered by curated online personas often exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, contributing to anxiety and depression among users. Privacy concerns surrounding data collection and the potential for misinformation can create a sense of distrust and confusion in the digital landscape, further complicating one’s relationship with online content. Influencer culture, especially when overly idealized or commercialized, can lead to increased anxiety, lower self-esteem, or dissatisfaction with one’s own life (Fardouly et al., 2018). In a world where the highlight reels of others seem to overshadow personal experiences, the pressure to conform to these standards can be overwhelming. To protect your mental health, practicing critical media literacy becomes paramount; this involves recognizing and questioning the messages being transmitted through various platforms. Setting firm boundaries around social media usage is equally important, as it allows individuals to create a healthier balance between online engagement and real-life interactions. Additionally, regularly reassessing how the content you engage with or produce aligns with your personal values and emotional wellbeing is essential to ensure that your online experiences positively contribute to your life rather than detract from it.

In summary, engaging with social media influencers or becoming an influencer yourself can offer substantial therapeutic benefits, from emotional validation and reduced loneliness to increased creativity, self-expression, and community connection. Yet, it’s essential to approach this practice thoughtfully and critically, maintaining a balance that supports rather than detracts from your overall wellness journey.

References

• Fardouly, J., Magson, N. R., Johnco, C. J., Oar, E. L., & Rapee, R. M. (2018). Parental control of the time preadolescents spend on social media: Links with preadolescents’ social media appearance comparisons and mental health. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(7), 1456-1468.
• Forgeard, M. J. C., & Elstein, J. G. (2014). Advancing the clinical science of creativity. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 613.
• Kim, H. S., & Kim, M. (2021). How do influencers influence?: A qualitative analysis of mental health YouTubers’ channels and videos. Health Communication, 36(4), 436-445.