Is it Okay Not To Always Follow Every Social Media Trend Online?

Is it Okay Not To Always Follow Every Social Media Trend Online?

Now, I know you all are wondering why I took a month and a half off from IHateAdulthood when it was supposed to be only 30 days.

As you know, I’m a strong advocate for mental health, and sometimes breaks are necessary. I’m sorry for the hiatus, but I promise to keep you updated on my well-being and the future of IHateAdulthood on our Instagram page.

If you’re not part of our Instagram community yet, what are you waiting for? You’re missing out on all the latest updates and discussions. Join us, and don’t forget to leave a pink heart in the comments when you do. We’re excited to have you on board!

If you have never heard of Jools Lebron, I know you’ve listened to the statement, “I’m mindful, I’m demure. I don’t go to work …” You can fill in the blanks. As I’ve scrolled down my timeline, I have seen individuals re-create Lebron’s TikTok, received text messages from friends reminding me they are demure, and even seen online work emails reminding employees to be mindful/demure in the workplace.

But I think people missed Lebron’s message. Most individuals thought Lebron was trying to diss others and hold them accountable to a certain standard, but that’s not what the purpose of the trend was at all. In a recent interview with CBS News, Jools gave further insight into what “being mindful and demure” is supposed to mean.

The last statement resonated with me the most. Often, when individuals see social media trends online, they feel pressured to perform to the standards discussed in the trend.

Whether immediately buying the product, not using it anymore, or applying the statements to their lives to reflect the exact requirement, things addressed on social media became “laws” for one’s lifestyle.

Let me get to the point: Social Media can often be a melting pot of ideas, and if individuals are not careful, they can get lost in the sauce.

Therefore, Jools reminds individuals that being demure is open to interpretation. It represents whatever individuals want it to be in life. But, if we scroll down our timelines, we may miss the message in the videos shared.

That’s where we start our discussion for today. Do we always have to follow social media trends online?

In my personal belief, we don’t. Social media trends are important; they give us ideas and keep the “culture” going. But they don’t have to define who we are and how we show up in the world.

Instead, it’s important that we appear on platforms in a way that reflects who we are as human beings and shows that there are many definitions of who a human can be.

Often, individuals want to put others in a box. These boxes contain labels, descriptions, and things individuals shouldn’t do.

In a world where “being different” is not always accepted, it’s essential that we show up on platforms as the imperfect versions of ourselves!

I can admit I am guilty of not always doing that. I worry that there will be judgment, ridicule, or even removal of followers if I don’t fit into a particular box. Not only is this unfair to me and our community, but it is also exhausting.

It’s tiresome to think over and over again about what will be considered “acceptable” and what is not. But, a recent promise I made to myself is to show up on our platforms as authentically as possible.

Therefore, I am going to tell you about the failures, wins, lessons, and moments of truth we all may need to hear so that we can grow. While not everything on the platform will be about my life, I will bring stories from authentic individuals who carry themselves in their own “demure” way.

As a result, moving forward, you can expect topics we’ve never addressed before as we build a search engine for Black women on all things ADULTING. Because if I keep us in a box, we will never grow!

I want our community to prosper, not only in terms of readership but also in terms of our comment sections, which should be a place where you can find support, solace, and constructive feedback. If we only discuss the “surface” things, are we really addressing the truths of adulthood?

Therefore, we will dig a little deeper, and our topics will be released earlier so you can know what’s coming next. You can also suggest things you want to see on this search engine.

That being the case, I hope you continue on this journey with us.

Check out our newest Instagram series, “What’s the 411 on Adulting with Jadis Venay,” where we will discuss everything you can imagine, from how to pick a doctor to things no one tells you about adulting, career advice, favorite “Black-Owned” products, adulting wins of the week, adulting “fails,” and expectations on adulthood that didn’t come true!

Y’all know what I am talking about. As kids, we thought staying up late was going to be the most fun part of adulthood, and now we are in bed by 9:30 PM. LOL!

I hope you are ready for the show because I am ready to share more about my adulting journey and the lessons I’ve learned from others along the way.

The mission will be to improve each week. So, don’t be surprised if you return and the FORMULA has been changed. It is all geared towards us showing up in our most “demure” way.

But don’t fret—some things will never change. You will still get interviews and weekly posts (except during the holidays and AUGUST RESET), and you will have a safe platform to share your thoughts and feelings with fellow Black women!

Leave a red heart in the comments if you’re ready for the ride.

I’ll see you all next week as we discuss the question, “Is it okay to give individuals a second chance?”

Peace & Prosperity,

Jadis DeShong-Venay

Sources:

Novak & Perez. (19 August 2024)”Very Demure” Tiktoker Jools Lebron explains the viral trend and how to embody her “very mindful” example. CBS NEWS. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-does-demure-tiktok-trend-jools-lebron-mean/