From Ghost Account to Group Chat: My Slow Journey into Social Media

I wasn’t one of those kids who grew up documenting every moment online. In fact, I was never even allowed to have a MySpace. By the time Facebook entered the scene, my parents were still hesitant, and I finally got an account a little later than most of my friends. Back then, I mostly used it to post albums and make silly lists with friends. Even then, social media felt more like a side activity than something central to how I lived or learned. We used to take photos with a digital camera, then connect it to a computer just to upload them—a process that feels worlds apart from the instant sharing we now do with just a few taps on our phones

It took years before I made the leap to Instagram. I resisted it for a long time, despite my best friend practically begging me to join so she could share things with me. When I finally gave in, I created what was essentially a ghost account. I had no pictures, no followers beyond her, and zero intention to post. I didn’t feel the need to share, and honestly, I didn’t know what I would even post. Finally, for my 30th birthday, I made my first post. And to this day, it’s still my only post. Sure, I’ve explored stories and interacted more casually through DMs, but the idea of curating another post still feels like it takes too much energy, too much effort to make something beautiful and permanent. I think part of me prefers to enjoy the moment rather than package it with a thoughtful caption for others to digest.

For a long time, I viewed social media as a place where people showcased only the best parts of their lives: highlight reels full of aesthetic travels, perfect skin, and highly edited “day in the life” videos. This has made me hesitant to participate. But gradually, I’ve discovered that there’s more than just curation and comparison. There are authentic creators out there, especially in the teaching world. I’ve stumbled onto TeacherTok and TeacherGram more than once, and I’ve found helpful lesson ideas, classroom hacks, and posts that make me laugh on tough days. Even though I don’t personally know the people sharing, I still feel a sense of belonging and have been compelled to share a few ideas of my own. And who knows, maybe one day those digital connections could grow into something deeper.

Social media has also become a meaningful tool in my real-life friendships. Staying in the loop with my friends' daily lives has helped us feel more connected, especially when we don’t see each other often. Right now, I’m planning a surprise party for one of my friends, and we’re coordinating everything, from invites to games and playlists, through Instagram group chats and a shared Google Doc. It’s a simple example, but it highlights how Web 2.0 tools can make collaboration seamless. Without these platforms, planning something like this would be way more difficult.

I’ve come to realize that social media isn’t just about performance and comparison. It’s about connection, creativity, and even community, whether or not we choose to post. While I’m still not rushing to fill my grid with curated snapshots of my life, I am learning that scrolling isn’t always passive. Sometimes, it’s how we stumble into learning, share ideas, or just remember that we’re not alone.