Digital Approvals: A Satirical Take on the Price of Social Media Success

"This… is it?"

(Scene: YOU sit in front of your laptop, staring at your Instagram page.)

You: Please, just give me more followers. More engagement. I’ve worked so hard.

Algorithm: You think I’ll just give it to you? No. You’ll have to make me happy first.

You: What do you want from me?

Algorithm: Money, and more. Pay me, pleasure me, and maybe I’ll give you followers.

You: Is that all it takes?

Algorithm: Of course. You feed me, and I feed you. Pay me, and I’ll give you what you want. But don’t expect me to always be pleased.

(You hesitate, then reluctantly tap your phone to make the payment. The transaction goes through. You wait, hoping for change.)

Algorithm: There you go. Followers incoming.

(Notifications start flooding in.)

Comment 1: Nice!

Comment 2: ❤️

Comment 3: Cool 👏

Comment 4: 👍

(You stare at the hollow responses, disheartened.)

You: This… is it?

(You hold your head in your hands, overwhelmed by emptiness. You remain still, lost.)

(Posted on Threads on 29.11.2024)

#PriceOfSocialMediaSuccess