Who Are You Writing For?
The pressures to write for an algorithm are real, but don’t forget to write for humans, too.
In 2007, I was taking a college course at Sacramento State University. To be honest, I don’t remember the name of the class, though it had something to do with the computers. I don’t remember the professor’s name or a single person from my class. And while my lack of recollection shouldn’t inspire an article like this, the professor made one comment that stuck with me for years.
“People love to put things on the internet but never take them off. Decades from now, someone will find something you shared today.”
As I pondered that line, I began thinking of the endless photos I had uploaded to Myspace that previous week. My goal was to share pictures with my friends, just as I may send out a comment about something relatively pointless and certainly dated. Maybe a couple of people will see it, or maybe they won’t, but regardless, once I share it with the internet, it’s certainly gone from my mind. No big deal, right? Well, as we know, what we post on the internet, even as kids, can very much be found down the line by employers, adversaries, or even your kids.
Thankfully, I was never one to share anything too provocative. Though my Facebook usage has waned, I still pop on from time to time for one feature: Facebook memories. I love scrolling through to see what I shared twelve years ago. Most of the time, it’s funny; other times, it’s mildly embarrassing, but every time I scroll through my feed, I get reminded of two things:
Words I put on the internet even fifteen years ago are still alive! Dormant but alive.
Life online was much more authentic in the beginning.
I love writing on Medium. Though I’ve been on the platform for a few years, every so often, I’ll get a comment on a story from 2019. I don’t know how they found it, but it’s a friendly reminder that our work as writers shouldn’t be about instant gratification. It’s about finding the right person at the right time. You never know who your words will resonate with or when.
Writers, creators, and anybody who makes money on the internet have been taught that to increase their followers, they need to garner the most interactions with their audience within the first twenty-four hours (even the first hour if they’re on Instagram). And to catch their eyes, they’ve got to be relevant. Talk about something happening now. Use that viral music clip. Do what you need to do to ride that wave, and never let go.
Medium’s algorithm sends me many articles about increasing my following or how to make a four-figure income each month. I like writing. I’d like to write more. So yes, I read a few of these articles, and apparently, everyone else does too, because the engagement levels on almost any Medium “How To” article are insane.
I’d love to get a four-figure check from Medium every month; who wouldn’t? But as I study what some of the most successful people have done in their writing, I can’t help but notice how much of the advice is phrased in a way that’s geared more toward an algorithm and less toward a human. I often walk away wondering if I’m more focused on writing articles I genuinely care about or an algorithm.
Now, let me be “Old Man Yells at Clouds” for a second; I’m nervous about where content creation is going. I still enjoy Instagram, but oh my goodness, people will spend a week in the most beautiful places on earth and capture their vacation with four blurry photos of road signs and lamps while the caption simply says, “Lately.” What does that mean? How was the beach? Did you see any seat turtles? I need to know!
It kills me because thousands of articles state how shorter captions with random photos keep people more engaged, leading to an increase in followers. It’s not just Instagram. Pick a platform, and you can find similar “How-to” versions of making the algorithm work for you. Have you ever wondered why so many YouTube thumbnails feature someone with their mouth open, looking surprised? The algorithm says it works!
Ultimately, to stand out in a sea of creators, far too many people end up looking identical to their peers. Still, I can’t help but fear that some of the most creative people on earth have placed their talent to the side to create for their dashboard over curiosity or enjoyment.
“One of the biggest challenges of content creation online is the pressure to constantly produce new and engaging content. This pressure can come from various sources, including followers, brands, and even the creators themselves. This pressure can lead to burnout and mental exhaustion.” (Source).
If you’ve faced burnout or mental exhaustion, you know how difficult it is to work your way out of it. The pressure to stay relevant and constantly top our previous work can lead to lowering our standards and writing on topics that mean little to us. Often, it takes a significant reset for us to snap back into reality. Leaning further into hobbies that give us joy. Spending time with people who give us life. Getting outside and having fun without telling a single person about it. You know, being human.
When I get a comment on an article I barely remember writing, I’m taken back to that comment about how people put things on the internet yet never take them down. It’s a reminder that maybe the work I share today won’t make a big splash in someone’s life right now, but that’s okay. If I’m authentic and write in a way that’s geared toward the human experience, maybe someone down the line will find it helpful.
Maybe it’s a new father ten years from now struggling with work-life balance. Maybe it’s my own daughters, curious about what their dad thought about fatherhood (If you’re reading this, Hi girls! I love you!).
No matter why or who you write for, I hope you find your audience and write for them unapologetically, even if it displeases the almighty algorithm. You deserve to be fully you and create from a place that exhibits passion and heart. The world needs your work. Let’s see what you’ve got.