There’s a lot of buzz about community in the online world, but what about when you’re not part of the set? Whether we admit it or not, virtual groups aren’t that different from those we find in real-life society – the hierarchies and interactions are very similar which undoubtedly means that some users will feel left out.
I’m very lucky to be part of several supportive networks, but there have been times in the past when I’ve felt the sting of rejection – whether that be through having an unanswered comment, or through not being followed back.
So how do you cope with not being accepted into an online circle?
First and foremost, remember that these people don’t really know you. They don’t know that you typed that lengthy comment just after you’d had a rubbish day at work/school. They don’t know that you put your elderly neighbour’s bins out every week or that you have a difficult family life. They only see one side of you and in many cases, just your curated digital persona – not the living, warm, complicated human. When I feel overlooked, I always take a moment to step back and appreciate my real-world self with all its intricacies. I consider the physical connections in my life – family, friends, pets, colleagues. The online sphere has value , but it’s not everything.
Understand that it’s not personal. The people who haven’t responded to you might have restrictions on their time, which means they can only connect with a certain number of people. As an account holder, I’d love to be able to include everyone, but I already struggle at keeping up with posts of the people I follow. Social media is just one facet of my life so I have to manage it carefully otherwise it could easily encroach into family and work time.
Appreciate the online friends you do have. Nurture them, do something fun together – maybe set up a hashtag challenge or arrange a buddy read. Stop chasing what could be and be thankful for what already exists.
Take a moment to reflect on your own communities – could you be more welcoming to new members? Have you taken the time out to help others or build new connections? Whether we realise it or not, we’re all tribal to a certain extent – it’s up to us whether we break our own algorithms.
And if all the above still doesn’t work then seriously consider taking a break from social media for a few weeks. Indulge your interests, reward yourself in other ways – maybe organise a trip away or take a course. Make time to develop yourself and if you decide to return, you’ll have a new perspective on everything. As with any situation, if being in a certain place isn’t making you happy then you can leave, and with social media it’s even easier. All you need to do is switch off your phone and walk away.
An excellent post. It is very easy to get sucked into how you think you should be online. I think being yourself and try not to get too upset by others x
Author
Thanks Susan. I wanted to cover this as it’s not talked about very often yet most of us encounter it at some point on social media x
“Stop chasing what could be and be thankful for what already exists.” Excellent advice Mel
Author
We know it in our hearts but like everything in this society, we’re constantly told that aspiration is all. Sometimes it takes quite a lot of willpower to accept that we can stand still!
Thanks for this post! It can sometimes seem like all of the bigger bookstagram accounts all know eachother, but I know that’s not the case. And it is a nice reminder to me that I can always out the phone down and take a step back! 😊
Author
I’m sure they don’t but there’s some truth in your words too. The bigger accounts do tend to follow one another – mainly because of talent but also, I suspect, because of mutual influence. It’s good to view all of this from a distance though – the numbers aren’t everything!
“Stop chasing what could be and be thankful for what already exists”. Love this!
Awareness is a powerful tool to have. After reading this blog I’m able to relate in so many ways. I’m glad you chose to write your thoughts on this subject. Great tips to self reflect on where I currently am.
Author
I’m glad this helped. In some ways it can be even harder to deal with online exclusion than in real life because it’s so visible. When you take the numbers away it’s not as big a deal though. In fact I wish we could hide our stats!
Very true and worth remembering. I’ve definitely become aware of this type of behaviour at times on bookstagram although it is on the whole a supportive community.
Author
The bookstagram community is the best, but in other areas I have come across instances where people have found it difficult to integrate with groups. I hope that those who feel marginalised will feel a little more reassured after reading this 🙂