How Steemit is Like Highschool - Musings of a freshman steemian

in #steemit8 years ago (edited)

In my five days on this platform, I've discovered some similarities between Steemit (as a platform and community) and being a teen in highschool trying to succeed socially. Here are a few:

It's bloody hard choices

Between being a horny teen, a busy student and a growing person as a teen was challenging (to say the least). So it being an author on Steemit. It might seem easy, but it's a lot of hard work and effective use of time. 

Most of us are adults, with lives, families and jobs. So this juggling is a challenge, especially if you don't want to make sacrifices for success. In highschool, you had to balance having a social life and not failing at your courses. With Steemit, you need to balance creating content and not failing at life.

Be original, but not yourself

To succeed in highschool socially you had to be original, but you couldn't be TOO original. There were always the few leaders you tried to resemble, even if you were a rebel at heart. 

It's an instinct - we copy those who do well. No shame in it, but we're sometimes left feeling like we've sold out a little. I can see the same thing happening to be on Steemit. I find myself experimenting with types of content to see "what works" according to what I see is successful. That doesn't always work.

You never know what's coming

Some things you did in highschool may have come to haunt you since. Others, while silly and pointless at the time, might turn out to be the best decisions you've ever made. This is also true when it comes to Seemit content. You never know what will be a hit and what will just get buried. There's is very little logic to it.

It's a popularity contest

Highschool cliques are like prison gangs. You're either in one, or you're alone. If you don't find your clique and just stick to one or two close friends, you'll never be socially successful. 

Here they're called "whales". In highschool they were simply called "the popular kids". Money often played a role in them becoming such, but sometimes it was pure charisma. Either way, you wanted to be them, or at least wondered what it must be like. You still do.

Affirmation and recognition

As teens, one of the things we strived for was to be accepted and recognized as the people we were forming to be. On Steemit, people often seek approval and recognition of their opinions, talents and creations. Unfortunately, the popularity contest of highschool and of Steemit make it especially hard to get these things if you're not in with one of the more popular cliques. That that's just a shame.

Highschool is a time of change. From my professional opinion as a media specialist, online content is growing and changing these days, all still hormonal and confused. I believe Steemit is a sign of that. Let's just hope it survives puberty.

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You've outlined exactly how every social media platform works hehe. Around the age we reach in Highschool is where most of us first begin to develop the sense of self and others to who and what we are. Our society is largely based around pop-culture, this being so it only makes sense that at that age would be when we begin to act out such.

And a great comment. Thank you.

This was just a bunch of thoughts that have been running through my head as I attempt to look at Steemit from a social-psychological perspective.

I wonder what my role in the high school metaphor I play. 8D

Gave upvote.

I am the weird computer and book nerd with the colored hair and earphones on. And that resting bitch face that says "get out of my way I know martial arts".

Hehehe genius article, girl :)

Thank you, darling! Hope it'll get the upvotes it deserves.

Nice work making the connections. Who's your steemit prom date?

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