📱 Why Do I Find Social Media So Hard?
Social media is something I find really difficult, and deep down, I know why. It’s not that I don’t like having a chat—my wife would be the first to tell you I’m the talker and she’s the listener! It’s just that, until recently, I simply didn’t "do" social media.
I first started following them when my brothers and I got NHL 94 for the Sega Mega Drive. Remember those? We all chose teams: I was the Oilers, my middle brother chose the Vancouver Canucks (mostly for Pavel Bure’s insane speed), and as my youngest brother got older, he went with the New York Rangers.
I’m the only one who still regularly watches the games. It’s got easier over the years; I used to get up at "silly o’clock" to watch a live stream on my PC wherever I could find one. Nowadays, I usually watch the game the following day on NHL.TV. Back then, Twitter was just the best place to get Oilers news and keep up with the team. Occasionally I’d post about them, or my local football team, Peterborough United (The Posh), but that was the extent of it.
🚪 "Knock and See if They're Out"
I’ve had people say to me, "I'll give you a follow on Facebook," only to look amazed when I tell them I don’t have it. "How do you keep up with people?" they ask. My answer? I don't! If you want me, ring me.
I come from an era where if you wanted to see a mate, you’d walk around to their house and knock to see if they were allowed out. Sometimes they were, sometimes they weren’t, and sometimes there was just nobody in. That was that.
Now, starting up all these platforms hoping one will help my books is a real challenge. I don't have the "social media muscle memory" others have. I don’t sit there for hours scrolling, which doesn't help with the algorithms because I’m not "engaging." I’ve learned that you have to comment and be active to be known in a community, but because I don't do much of that, my views stay low. On the rare occasion I do force myself to comment and someone reposts me, the views skyrocket—but it feels like an uphill battle.
🧩 The Platform Puzzle
- Facebook: This is the hardest for me. I know how to post, but that’s about it. Most groups I join just turn into spam. I have 56 followers, and the only person who ever comments is... yep, you guessed it: my mum.
- Instagram: It’s frustrating because of the link issues and the pressure to have "perfect" pictures. Plus, those automated "I suggest @" spam messages are incredibly annoying.
- X (Twitter): I like it, but I get no views, even on conversational questions.
- Bluesky: It started off better for engagement, but even that has drifted off recently.
- Pinterest: I started this because it’s supposedly great for blog traffic. I’m getting 3.0k monthly views, which sounds like a lot, but views don’t always equal clicks to the blog.
- TikTok: I have an account and post occasionally, but I’m just not "good" at it. BookTok is massive, and while I’m not scared of the camera, I just don't know what to talk about. I write books and look after a school building; social media just isn't my forte.
📝 The "Diary" Escape
That’s why I enjoy writing these blogs. They are almost like a diary that I started during my dinner breaks at work. Topics just pop into my head—like this one about social media—and I have to write them down immediately, or I’ll forget. I then spend the week adding and editing until I run out of time.
The good thing about the blog is that I don't really care if nobody reads them; they are just my musings. But at the same time, it’s brilliant to see so many of you now coming over to take a peek.
If you enjoy the content or have any ideas on how to help my social media game, let me know. This is the one place I truly don't mind talking to you all!
📚 What Am I Reading
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📚 The Newman Adventures
An Irish Mystery A fast-paced historical adventure about stolen treasures, hidden histories, and the cost of obsession. The story that started it all.
An American Treasure The journey continues! Cedric Newman returns in a high-stakes hunt for the lost riches of Mosby's Rangers. Action, mystery, and a new enemy await.
Available in Ebook, Kindle Unlimited, Paperback & Hardcover
📱 Let’s Connect
You can also find me on Instagram, Bluesky, X, and Facebook, where I share writing updates, research snippets, and behind-the-scenes moments from the school building and the writing desk.
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