January 21, 2024 | Sierra Brown-Rodrigues

In today's digital era, we're governed by an unspoken but pervasive law: create or be consumed. This dichotomy presents a unique challenge: Do we become creators in this endless expanse of the internet, or do we succumb to the role of passive consumers?

We’ve reached an unprecedented time in our society where our attention has never been more valuable. Yet, with this, we seem to find ourselves trapped in a ceaseless cycle of content creation and consumption.

I originally explored this idea and my relationship to the internet in my newsletter, Confessions of a 20-Something, but I felt compelled to elaborate on this idea further.

As members of the online generation it seems that we’ve been backed into a corner, each of us facing a very real choice: spend time creating content or be engulfed by others' creations.

The Paradox of Connectivity

The internet has connected us in ways we’ve never before experienced as a society, yet this hyper-connectivity is paradoxical. We’re more connected than ever yet so many of us feel more isolated than ever before.

The digital landscape, while designed to unite us, has led to profound isolation across generations.

This irony is encapsulated in the observation that many of us find quiet moments to have become both lackluster and precious. Personally, I struggle to achieve any silence in my life: in the background of every quiet moment seems to be the vibrating of constant notifications.

However, every time I go to turn off my phone I feel a wave of guilt; the guilt of suddenly being unavailable to my friends, family, and the masses.

In today’s economy, being offline is the greatest rebellion against the digital hum that constantly surrounds us, and it’s a privilege not all of us can afford.

The Creator's Burden

This idea of “create or be consumed” extends from content creators to really any internet user.

For digital content creators, particularly those on platforms like YouTube, the pressure to consistently produce new material has become a mental and physical challenge. Creators are forced into a contract with their audience that demands continuous engagemens, leading to a relentless cycle of creating, editing, and promoting content.

While this allows for creative expression, it often results in burnout and a struggle to maintain authenticity. The tension between creating content that resonates with audiences and staying true to one’s creative instincts can lead to a feeling of disconnection and compromise.

Many content creators have spoken openly about the mental health challenges they face, including anxiety, depression, and burnout, due to these relentless demands.

The need for constant innovation, coupled with immediate and sometimes harsh audience feedback, heightens stress levels. Research indicates that YouTubers, in particular, confront unique mental health challenges stemming from the pressures of content production and audience engagement. This environment tests the limits of their creativity and mental resilience, underscoring the need for balance and self-care in the pursuit of digital success.

Technostress and Mental Health

The phenomenon of 'technostress,' as identified by Brooks, Longstreet, & Califf, encapsulates the mental fatigue arising from our struggle to balance online and offline lives. This fatigue stems not just from the quantity of digital engagement, but from its nature in the context of this 'create or be consumed’ dynamic.

As individuals, we're bombarded by a constant stream of content, compelling us to either contribute our own or be overwhelmed by the influx. This relentless cycle creates a unique form of stress that we’ve never encountered before.

We're no longer just passive recipients; with smartphones in our pockets and access to the internet no matter where we are, we've been forced to actively engage in a digital tug-of-war, constantly deciding whether to consume or create. No matter what you choose, you’ll encounter your own set of pressures and anxieties.

This duality of roles blurs the lines between leisure and labor, leisurely scrolling through social media becomes a mentally taxing activity, fraught with the pressure to keep up or stand out. Excessive engagement, especially among the youth, is linked to emotional stress and social anxiety, highlighting the severe impact that our online habits have on our real lives.

Corporate Influence and Social Media Addiction

Unsurprisingly, corporations have played a significant role in perpetuating social media addiction.

The evolution of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X into tools for corporate gain has exacerbated this stress. The business model of these platforms, driven by affective capitalism, is designed to engage users in a relentless pursuit of likes and shares, turning every interaction into a potential performance.

This has shifted the focus from real-world interactions to virtual validation, further entrenching this tug-of-war dynamic. Users are not only consuming content; they're also constantly evaluating their own worth and relevance in a digital marketplace of attention.

This pressure to constantly perform on social media platforms contributes significantly to the mental fatigue experienced by users, as they navigate an environment where their value is often quantified by online metrics.

The Impact of Constant Consumption

The role of consumers in this ecosystem is particularly complex. The Book Leo's video below shows how social media has strangely become a coping mechanism for many, and as we turn to these platforms in moments of stress, anxiety, or difficulty, we’re essentially using them as a means to escape rather than confront our realities. However, this escape comes with its own set of challenges.

Consumers, in their quest to find relief or distraction, become entangled in a web of constant content consumption. This dependency differs from the creator's burden, as it often leads to a lack of fulfillment and an increased dependence on digital validation.

The act of consuming content, meant to be a respite, becomes a source of stress in itself. Users are caught in a cycle where their moments of leisure are intrinsically linked to a digital world that demands constant attention and engagement, leaving little room for genuine relaxation or disconnection.

Our insatiable hunger for content and constant craving for stimulation stem from a fear of being alone with our thoughts and the discomfort of boredom.

Navigating Balance in a Hyper-Connected World

This 'create or be consumed' dynamic of our digital era presents a unique, but profound challenge to our mental well-being. As we navigate the complex terrain of technostress, corporate influence, and the constant pressure to engage with social media, it's important to learn to recognize the mental fatigue that accompanies this new mode of existence.

Whether as creators, striving to maintain authenticity amidst relentless demands, or as consumers, seeking escape yet finding new sources of stress, we are all affected by this ubiquitous digital pull.

This realization calls for a conscious reevaluation of our digital habits. It's essential to strike a balance, not just in how much we use technology, but in how we engage with it. We need to cultivate spaces for genuine disconnection, where the mind can rest and rejuvenate away from the digital clamor so we can reclaim our mental space, and allow for deeper reflection and creativity.

As the current generation of children is born into the midst of this digital revolution, it becomes imperative to instill a thorough understanding of the impact our digital choices have. By establishing boundaries, fostering genuine connections, and making mental health a priority, we can navigate the digital landscape with deliberate purpose and intention.

Since the barrier between the physical and digital world continues to shrink, we must learn how to exist authentically, both online and offline, and to find joy and fulfillment in the balance.