Tag: instagram

I Used TikTok as a Slightly Out-of-Touch 20-Something, and Here’s What I Found

~ Brooke F. ~ 4 Comments

If you haven’t joined TikTok yet, you might be wondering: Should I? Maybe you’re feeling FOMO, or maybe your curiosity is piqued by all the buzz. Allow me to satisfy that curiosity and save you the download—it’s not worth it.

Don’t get me wrong, TikTok might’ve been a fun app in its heyday (circa two years ago). Back then, it seemed like a magical place where trends, humor, and creativity collided in glorious harmony. However, as of now, TikTok has become a shadow of its former self, buried under an avalanche of TikTok Shop promotions. Imagine scrolling through your feed, only to be hit with an endless parade of “must-have” items you didn’t ask for. No thanks.

Honestly? I’d rather wait for TikToks to trickle their way over to Instagram Reels, where I can actually enjoy them without feeling like I’m trapped in an infomercial. That’s the beauty of Instagram—it’s like the highlight reel of TikTok, minus the ads.

The (Few) Positives

I will admit, there’s one thing TikTok does better than Instagram: content creation. I found that TikTok’s video editing system is surprisingly intuitive and far superior to Instagram’s. Adding text, syncing to music, and playing with effects felt seamless. I actually enjoyed making videos, which is saying something for someone who only opens the app sporadically.

Speaking of sporadic use, my TikTok “routine” looks something like this:

  1. Open the app once in a blue moon.
  2. Film something fun or quirky (because why not?).
  3. Watch all the TikToks my sister or friends have sent me.
  4. Close the app and forget about it for another week (or two).

Why TikTok Isn’t My Thing

It’s not that TikTok isn’t fun. It’s just that it isn’t fun enough to outweigh the downsides. The sheer volume of ads, coupled with the temptation to waste hours scrolling, made the app feel more like a chore than a source of entertainment. Sure, I could see how it might become a massive time suck, but I never got there because the experience was too frustrating to stick around.

If you’re someone who’s already on TikTok and loves it, more power to you! But if you’re on the fence, take my advice: skip it. You’re not missing much.

Stick to Instagram Reels or good ol’ YouTube, where the best of TikTok inevitably ends up anyway. And if you ever get that itch to try TikTok for yourself? Just remember—your curiosity doesn’t need to be fed that badly.

But in the event you’re already addicted to the app, feel free to drop me a follow here.

Alrighty! Byeeee!

A Guide to Instagram for Writers: The Good, The Bad, and the Draining

~ Brooke F. ~ 3 Comments

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? Well, we aim to analyze that very thing today as I walk you through what it’s like to use Instagram as a writer. If you’ve some much as even glanced at Instagram, you’ve probably noticed it seems to the hotspot for creatives. I mean, it’s basically one giant virtual gallery of coffee cups, open books, and people with serious-looking headshots writing snappy, one line poems. But is it actually useful for writers trying to build their craft and audience, or just another time-suck we justify as “networking”? Spoiler: it’s a little bit of both.

So here’s the full rundown of using Instagram as a writer—complete with highs, lows, and plenty of aesthetic pressure.

The Good: The Highlights of Instagram for Writers

  1. Connections, Encouragement, and the Validation of Strangers
    Instagram is kind of like the local open-mic night—someone will always clap, even if you just read your grocery list (as long as you use enough hashtags of course). Through hashtags like #WritingCommunity and #AmWriting, you can find other writers to cheer you on and remind you that yes, there are people out there who care deeply about your haiku on existential dread. Plus, it’s a safe bet that people will comment something nice on your posts, even if it’s just a thumbs-up emoji. HOWEVER, whether these are real people or just bots vying for attention to promote themselves everywhere is up for debate.
  2. The Sheer Joy of Making It Look Pretty
    Who doesn’t love a good aesthetic? Instagram encourages us all to be photographers, so if you’ve got snippets of writing or a stack of favorite books, there’s endless fun to be had. (Although, honestly, does my journal really look better next to a potted plant? The people say yes.) If you’re visually inclined, Instagram might be your paradise.
  3. Slow but Steady Growth (If You Have the Patience)
    I can attest to this one personally. When I first tried sharing my writing, I started to see a slow and steady trickle of followers—as long as I was babysitting my page like a needy plant. But take a break? You’ll be lucky if the algorithm even remembers your account exists. It felt like stepping away for a week was like hitting the reset button, and I didn’t have the energy to keep jumping back in. Eventually, I just let it be, and now my poor little writing page is collecting dust in the dredges of the Instagram algorithm. Oops! Sorry, this was supposed to be the positives section. But now that you mention it, I think it’s time we move onto….

The Bad: The Drawbacks of Instagram for Writers

  1. The Algorithm = Frenemy #1
    Oh, the elusive, ever-changing algorithm. Instagram doesn’t just let you share writing; it expects you to be a part-time social media strategist. Posting at the right time? Check. Engaging with followers? Check. Making Reels? Triple check (seriously, Reels are in). And sometimes you’ll pour your soul into a post only for it to be seen by three people, two of whom are your mom and your bestfriend (love ya girl!).
  2. Perfection Pressure: For When Words Aren’t Enough
    Being on Instagram as a writer is kind of like being told you have to paint a picture every time you write a sentence. A good line of poetry is no longer enough—you have to make it look Pinterest-worthy. This can be draining, especially when all you want to do is, you know, write. But you have to! Because this isn’t the time nor the space to share a novel. You MUST stick to the witty one-liners. That’s all people have time for. Instagram content is made to feed an audience in bite-sized portions. And so you must trim the fat.
  3. Time: Instagram Will Eat It All, Trust Me
    Let’s be real—if there’s a way to waste time online, Instagram will help you find it. Between scrolling through your feed, obsessively checking your notifications, and looking for the perfect font for that post, it’s easy to lose hours. And while we could be writing, we’re often scrolling for “inspiration”—or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.

The Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you genuinely enjoy sharing your work visually and don’t mind the hustle of keeping up with the algorithm, Instagram can be a useful space for writers. But if it’s taking more time than it’s giving back, maybe dial it back. Remember: your worth as a writer isn’t measured by the number of likes.

Happy posting (or happy ignoring the algorithm entirely)!