The one thing I noticed is when all the influencers jumped ship from using EC products they all started promoting other products like crazy! I just feel like some took advantage of the situation to push other products very heavily. This has really made me think about the way I am sharing my own instagram content to be more aware of those having financial hardships during this time. Thanks Cindy for a great thought provoking video!
Actually I appreciated being able to see what options were out there. Maybe it was a little bit of an opportunity to remind us and to support smaller companies with good products, especially those owned by POC. To not just automatically go for what's popular but to actually think about what fills your needs and makes you feel good about your purchase.
Yep I noticed this too. And I especially noticed the "but I can separate the person from the brand" ones. Those ones really didn't agree with my feeling at the time so I unfollowed 99% of them. Those I kept were those who I enjoy other media of theirs (YT channels or podcasts) and those who did not push other products but simply stated their reasoning for doing whatever they were doing, and them left it alone.
It always blows my mind how rarely folks actually *finish/use” their planners. There’s a launch and six months left in a planner and folks are on to the newest thing. Not my money, but so fascinating and confusing to observe.
This might not be something everyone can do but I started unfollowing alot of big name people because of this. Pre-pandemic it didnt really bother me but I think because I am just so angry with everything going on right now, that I just cant take another swipe up for this item. I started following alot of these people because I enjoyed how their planners looked and was inspired. Now I just feel kinda used in a way. Used for my time and money. The products that I promote I want to genuinely use them and enjoy using them. Not use them once then throw them to the side. Anyway...kinda was all over the place but great video as always! Thanks for inspiring people to not go consumerism crazy.
I started blogging and using social media in 2004 and have seen it all. Right now, everything feels extra gross to me too. I've also stepped way back on pretty much everything online because in my opinion, there's no way to work authentically with brands anymore. Either you pander to the brand or you pander to the algorithms to get your head above water. I'm not saying that there's nobody out there doing a great job of it - I just don't know who those people are. As a consumer, I don't want to hear paid only opinions or why would I bother following you? And I don't want to see 50 similar posts because that's what the algorithm likes either. I feel so old when I say this but, back in the day when I started, it was about finding like minded people and that is no longer at the core of what social media is. That's why I am here to watch your channel. I appreciate your thoughts in this space.
I quit Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter July 1st. I watched and read a lot about why I should not be on it- then a Jaron Lanier video from The NY Times hit it home for me. None of these platforms paid me to create content on their platform, but they make money from all of the eyeballs all of us bring to them. Just that simple idea was enough for me. I kept RUclips around, because technically they’ll share their revenue with any serious creator, even if it is a small amount. Plus, there is more of an opportunity for me to view something educational and entertaining that’s not framed in a “thirst” way. Authentic videos like this one that makes me feel like I’m chatting with someone else are all over this platform.
Hey was that a ted talk from Jaron you watched? I'm curious because I saw a ted talk about a year ago that had talked about studies that were done on social media and the effect it had on people who used it, compared to the effect it had on people who did not use it. They found overwhelmingly that people who did not use it were happier, more content with their lives, and felt that what they had was enough. They also found that those who did not use it also did not experience anywhere near the frequency or depth of depression and anxiety. I was surprised at first but it makes sense.
@@goldenretrievermom7945 it was "Jaron Lanier Fixes the Internet" - the part that got me was the visualization of the IV pull the blue liquid from the back of someone's neck towards the end. Social media needs us to survive, it needs our data. Right now I'm okay with giving my data to RUclips. I don't want to be cynical about it though. Good things will come from this I'm sure.
I appreciate you! Seeing you promote items and saying “get these if you think you’ll love them and you NEED them”. It’s nice to see an influential person being real 💕
I cut the fat last year! I started my Instagram account to be inspired and inspire others to USE our planners. I kept seeing all of the buy-all-the-things posts and got tired and discouraged to post. After a while, in need of some interactions with others that like planners like me, I started to use my account after I did a massive unfollowing. I unfollowed all the accounts that didn't fit with my views and needs, like shops, the so-called "influencers", and the plaster-all-the-stickers-but-don't-actually-use-their-planners, etc. Now, I'm more happy with my feed and I'm able to interact more with people that actually use their planners because in the end, as pretty as a planner can be, I need it to actually plan and get things done.
I have a simple solution: don't follow "influencers." I keep my "follow" list very small and as far as I know, I'm not following any influencers. There are a couple of Irish photographers who technically are, but I ignore the posts where they're obviously flogging some product (usually cars or the Huawei phones that aren't available here anyway lol--you'll pry my iPhone from my cold, dead fingers...). The ads on IG are bad enough, I'm not going to be a glutton for punishment.
My problem with IG and a lot of social media is that everyone complains about the pressures of needing to be perfect , and how noone actually looks like that in the real world, and products dont look like that in real life, and yet NOONE is doing anything to change it. My IG is filled with imperfect pictures etc, and i up front say i dont buy into the whole perfection bullshit, and yet i still get asked to make this more staged and pretty. GAH! Makes me to f***ing angry
You can follow me - I rarely post and when I do, it is definitely NOT perfect :D and it's gluten-free! Not a single piece of wheat! :D (I never know what account I'm signed in as - IG is AlmstHvn). Let's be totally imperfect together!
Great post Cindy! Social media has negatively impacted my mental wellness since COVID-19 started. I decided to permanently delete Facebook at the end of June and took my Instagram to the bare minimum. I don’t follow any “influencer” accounts nor do I watch any RUclips videos from those people. It’s been a fabulous change and I’m much happier for it. Cheers!
This is honestly an amazing video. I feel so put off by the planner community for this very reason..I just want to watch people plan so i can learn some cool tips but the amount of merch that gets thrown in my direction..from brumate to furniture to whatever else..its so disingenuous n im so happy someone with a loud enough voice said this..
@@CindyGuentertBaldo it was a cognitive stroke (no limbs affected) but it's taken me ages to learn to read again and my memory is shot to hell. Thinking about it, that's not such a bad thing 😊
This was so relatable. Ive mostly exited all social media during the pandemic. I had a shopping addiction a few years ago and have outcome it through LOTS of therapy. Mostly social media has infuriated me recently because of people not giving a shit about the pandemic and going out for no reason and clearly demonstrating they dont care. Im also an a disabled, chronically ill, high risk person. Ive been alone in my dark apartment for 5 months. And other people aren’t even trying. Thanks for the video. Sending good vibes for your health.
The money grabbing and monetizing things is so tone deaf and lacking of a "read the room" in a time when the "room" needs to be read more often than ever. And then when their defensiveness is offensive and they say, "you're on MY page." Come on now. Really? Whether someone is hyping something for their own financial kickbacks or they are doing it for free stuff? It's the same no matter the time, day, or social media account.
Hope you are feeling better.....I have been feeling the same way so I took the app off my phone and now only go on to look at stories every now and then, I don't miss it.
I have similar thoughts and feelings about Bookstagram, especially with the enormous bookshelves, and the piles of expensive/shiny new release books. There are certain blogs I just can not go to any more, because I just can't keep up with their reading style, and I struggle with impulse purchasing. I know that will sound silly, but I can't purchase a book I'm probably never going to read if I don't know anything about it. If a social media platform is giving you bad vibes or you notice negative behaviour after visiting certain sites, it's best to stay away from it. Take care
You go! I’m out of the planner community and into the paper-crafting community but I still pop by occasionally and you are always refreshing. Yes, I’m seeing the same thing with paper-crafting. Thank you.
Don’t feel bad Cindy my health also got bad during the pandemic. I really hope you get better soon. I loved meeting you at the ny planner addicts masquerade ball last year
For 15 years I worked for ad agencies. Then one day I was like why am I trying to get people to buy stuff they don’t need? So when you said pimping out stuff people don’t need, that really hit home with me. I switched careers and for over a decade have worked in healthcare which makes me feel good about what I do. I am ragey about the Nordstrom shit. WTH? We are in a pandemic. Stay home. As a healthcare worker, I’m frustrated with the apathy people have about other human beings.
In my former life with littles I had 2 direct marketing product sales businesses. We were a starving military family. I was a married single mom. Both products sold themselves. 1 was a bit more complicated and changed colors so often that guaranteed replacement parts didn't match. I gave up on the product in my own home! The other was very easy. I left that business because morally I couldn't wrap my head around that my top sales were with people who had no money to buy the crap and traded food or late paid utilities for it! Seriously? When I lived in military housing, my top sales were double income earner households. I could handle that. Not so much in Florida. (I'm near Charleston now and this knew physically broken life came with me.) ~Heidi
I use instagram literally to be nosy at this point. I like seeing people's planner layouts, but a lot posted nowadays seems to be specifically to show off xyz item from Notiq or whatnot. Same for the clothes thing, buying clothes kind of takes a background right now to affording food and a place to live. And I feel like there's a lot of people who do that with like, Target clothes, constantly getting new items, constantly selling the "looks" on their instagram page. It's why I like the sustainable fashion community, they're also anti-consumerism and pro-using what you have, pro- making your own, pro altering old clothes to make them work.
Cindy, I really feel for you and your having to go through serious health issues and the pain they cause!!!! Congrats on prioritizing where to put your energy!! It’s so important and yet so challenging to actually do so!
Preach! I fell back from Instagram a while back because of this exact reason. I don't think that I even realized this was the reason why. I just became irritated by the stuff on my feed. I was no longer inspired by the people and things that were being presented. It didn't make me feel good and no "scrolling past" fixed it. I too wonder if I have been following the wrong people but having recently checked back into it I felt the same. Just isn't the place for me right now in my journey. All the best to you!
You are 100% correct! I went through a spending spree when the lockdown first happened. I think it was due to stress, and I found comfort in it. Now I look at this stuff and just shake my head. Ugh! I’m done with social media. I’ve also been deleting any email selling anything. Out of sight, out of mind!
Self care: my IG is only things that lower my blood pressure like dogs, lettering, and old houses and Ethel the Glamour Tort(oise). Yes this has zero to do with planners. That’s on purpose. I hope you change your IG to be peaceful, relaxing images. Stay safe, stay well.
True! Everyone is doing this! Everyone is trying to generate funds, followers, likes, etc. Just cut the noise, folks. I never was one to follow folks - just to follow. I am always aware that I have to protect my space. That space can be one's mind, body, family, etc. It's hard for me to give partial control of that to some external earthly entity. Yep, Cut the Noise. Right now concentrating a one's self-being is key. Times are hard & I have a feeling it's going to get harder before it gets better. So traverse life carefully. I hope I'm making sense. Stay safe & take care, ya'll!
I just emptied all my carts 😂😂😂 Thanks Cindy. You just saved me big $$$ On another note: the planner community “influencers” who were up in arms after the EC situation, for sure will be slinging that Hello Kitty collab shit in a few days 🤦🏽♀️ #moneytalks #affiliatecodesrule 🥴
Thank you for this video! It was super timely for me. I enjoy the planner community on all social media currently, but by FAR the hardest part for me is the sheer amount of items that I feel like I *”need”* to try. The scariest part is how insidious that can be... even though my brain knows how influencing works, it still creeps in. I do my best to call myself out but it’s hard and sometimes I straight up ignore my own common sense. It’s super helpful to hear it laid out by someone else, especially someone in the community! Thanks for always doing you. 💛
I agree 100% with this video!!! Not on IG much or FB and I’m being picky with which YT influencers I watch because I’m sick of product reviews that people get for free but are asking their followers to go out and purchase. Excellent coverage of this topic!!!
This is why I love you, girl! I feel the exact same way about IG lately and have cut back on it as well. I also notice IG itself showing me a shit ton more sponsored ads! Like one night it was EVERY OTHER PHOTO was an ad from IG. And then most of the things I was seeing from people I followed was all sponsored crap too. It's just too much. I'm trying to save money and just stock our pantry with food right now. I feel like people's priorities are a little different right now and the all ads all the time thing isn't working for most people.
I honestly feel this way about social media in general. I do my best to be selective about who I follow. If I feel myself getting aggravated I unfollow them. I know exactly what you mean about everyone sharing the same thing over and over. It just gets boring seeing the same crap every where
I stopped following lots of shops, and started following more people like you who share their life and share interesting things rather than always selling to me :) it's made my Instagram much more enjoyable!!
This summer has been the summer of UNFOLLOW for both people and hashtags, I'm still working on trimming down my list to only follow accounts that i find inspirational or just plain fun (i.e. cats/dogs/nature photography). The idea oddly enough came from an influencer "follow who want, but if you feel sick/annoyed/shitty from looking at their feed or stories, unfollow them. you dont owe them your energy". As a recent convert to Passion Planner, thats the only planner related content i follow so far not so not bad, not fake, not sales-y.
You speak what I have felt also. I have unfollowed so many planner influencers because I found myself falling into the rabbit hole of buying planner things I don’t need. I finally had to just get real with myself.
This video sure opens your eyes, the distrust is so big right now. I have to say that someone big in the community really disappointed and hurt my soul. Being fairly new and too trustworthy got me "fan girling" big time only to find out that this person is so fake. The person only cares about if you can do something for them, give them stuff for free, or can benefit them in some way. All I can say is big life lessons have been learned within the past six months for me. I appreciate you being so real, so blunt, and most of all HONEST! I am currently a PR for a group but I truly believe in the company, love their products which I buy myself and use not just for advertising purposes. I will not sell lies or my integrity just so I get stuff for free. I advertise or post because I truly love something. Thank you, thank you for opening my eyes to so much in this video, thank you for having lives on Sundays because I truly look forward to them every week, and thank you for just being you. I think your fricken awesome! My husband and I both laugh and enjoy YOU as a person, not to mention you inspire me to use my creative side and open up and slowly learn to just don't give a shit what people think. So thank you for your time, I know its precious and you choosing to use some of that time to be with us is awesome and I love it!!! Its in my planner every week as "Cindy and her amazing Fuckery time" Love ya!
I'm glad to hear your thoughts on this, Cindy. I've been feeling the same way about Instagram lately. I follow a number of fountain pen groups and influencers and it's the same thing - when something new comes out, I get photos and links to stores and links to videos all reviewing the same pen. A crappy pen that I and most people don't need because we have a hundred already. Oh look! It's a new colour! It'll change your life! There's way too much stuff going on in the world right now for me to care about crap like that and so I've unsubscribed to a lot of pages and groups and have generally not engaged with the platform much lately. I understand that people have sponsorship deals and relationships with companies and that's totally fine and if people get about excited about it, that's great for them. For me, it's just not something I want to be a part of anymore.
I can’t even remember the last time I was on Instagram. My life has been utter chaos with a sick furry, who I had to let go the rainbow bridge today, a wreck 3 weeks ago that really messed my back and hips up, AND because of COVID-19 depression that led to the PTSD from my husbands death resurfacing, your videos are about the only ones I watch on the regular. I was a 3.75 gpa student who had to drop out of college for a few coming months to give myself time to back up and regroup because I could not do it. I had 6 months to go until graduation and I just couldn’t anymore.
I totally understand where you're coming from. I'm a small business owner and now that so many physical stores are closing indefinitely, the "so-called experts" are creating a sense of panic for small business owners that if you aren't creating a presence online you're sealing your fate. I don't believe in high-pressure sales and am sensitive to the uncertainty many are feeling so I prefer to provide what I hope is helpful content more than product posts.
I actually had to go through my Insta about a month ago and unfollow a bunch of accounts because they either gave me major fomo or they made me feel crummy. Much happier now and don't scroll through a bunch of stuff I don't need.
Thank you so much for talking about this. I've been off IG for about a month and before the pandemic I had been off for about a year. I'm just so much happier and more engaged with the things/people I love without it.
I don’t follow many people in the planner community on IG. I mostly follow artists and it’s honestly a breath of fresh air. I have started unfollowing large accounts that complain when their engagement is low or when the algorithm is “hiding’ their posts.
Oooh Cindy I am praying that you recover fast, well and soon . I discovered you during the pandemic. Thank you for everything you're doing. I didn't know you were sick.
First, support to you as you go through the renal illness. Second, I subbed you when I started bullet journaling simply because you seemed real to me. I think wannabe “influencers” are in a hurry to quit their regular jobs, to make the bank to do so. They might also lack some faith in their subscribers and community, or maybe lack faith in themselves and their ability to build a business. I want to start a BuJo channel and I feel the pressure to become an affiliate, because I want to back off of my hours at my retail job. It’s hard on me physically, but since I have to have benefits, I can’t quit the job altogether. But I know it’s rare to make money through social media, despite what they want us to believe. BuJo has given me a life raft through depression, anxiety, grief, and illness, and I want to share that with others who can benefit. If any companies approach me, though, I think I would feel hesitant to peddle their stuff. Take care, Cindy. - Ben
I’ve noticed this not only on Instagram, but on TikTok as well. I like to scroll through TikTok for funny videos, and I’ve constantly been getting videos of “things you need from amazon!”. Some are influencers, others are just random everyday folks. I get this sense of fomo, and then buy the product, and then I feel guilty. Lately, I find myself scrolling at 1am, adding to cart but not checking out. In the mornings I wake up, and just delete everything in my cart. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by it all.
I have unfollowed so many people on Instagram because of this. I don't follow someone on Instagram to have them hawk shit to me incessantly. I appreciate your straight talk, as always 👍
I have no tolerance for people on social media that will repeatedly try to sell products to me. A while ago, I decided that my Instagram feed should be somewhat of a vision board. So I only follow accounts that I find visually pleasing or inspiring. And I have a similar approach on my personal account with the exception that I’ll follow family and friends...but none that post toxic content in whatever form it may be. Enjoyed your video 💙 Sending you a virtual hug 🤗
I avoid the influencers and their swipe-ups like I avoid the kiosks at the mall. (Well, how I used to avoid the kiosks. I haven't been to a mall in months.) It just all seems so disingenuous and is a big turn-off for me.
As an Etsy shop owner, I feel pressured to have an Instagram account for advertising BUT I refuse to do it. I want people to purchase from me because of my items, not because of a perfect LIE caught in pixels. It has intimidated me for 2 years and I have kept from opening because of it. You have given me the courage to forget the hype about must having an Instagram as a shop owner. My new opinion is "If they purchase my items, it will be because my designs caught their attention and not a photo prompt on instagram". So ty hun, I really appreciate it.
It's interesting how much this cuts across all sorts of communities I engage with. I hope companies re-evaluate how they work with influencers because I feel like consumers (in general, not just planner consumers) are getting wise to these ways. It's a marketing method that people are getting more immune to and if companies still want us to buy the way we were in the Before Times (although I doubt that will happen any time soon) they have to come up with new marketing methods. P.S. I want turkey and gravy now, too.
Yeah, that's something I was thinking about as I made the video. I've noticed this elsewhere, the planner shit and the nordstrom shit were just my main examples.
Thank you for this video! I spoke on it a bit on my IG account. I too agree with some people who will say they “love” a product because it was free, and not because they truly love it. I tend to only promote things I really love whether it’s something I bought or was sent. But overall IG can feel like one big ad
Hello Cindy, I started watching your channel shortly after lockdown beganbecause of one of your videos about what to do with random art suppliesI began January with the intention of having a low spend year this is not what I had in mind LOL in any case I've gotten to love your channel and your posts here because of how authentic you are you've made me laugh and I really appreciate that. I also Neil with health challenges myself so even though they are very different (I have spastic diplegia cerebral palsy) I can relate to some of what you're talkin about it helps me feel connected on days I feel alone . Thank you for that as well.and the only reason I am on Instagram is to keep in touch with my sister who will be leaving for Seattle University very soon I hope the folks at Instagram are listeningI hope the influencing others are listening too you have some wonderful points and I could talk all day about inspiration porn that I see being posted by some companies, clearly using the disabled community as a marketing device we all deserve nice things , but there is a time for everything
Hi Cindy. Prayers going out to you and your health situation. Thank you for making this video and taking on the topics that so many others avoid. I get that Instagram is one big online fashion magazine with ad after ad disguised as someone sharing cool stuff. I get when times are hard, retailers have to push harder to stay in business. Personally, I really like Insta. It's visual candy for me. I especially love seeing everyone's art and cool planner page layouts. I've tried enough products to know what I like and what I don't like, so I unfollow anyone who isn't posting things I like seeing. I also keep a wish list, which forces me to stay in budget and have a cooling period between seeing, wanting, and purchasing. Often times I find just seeing some things on Insta. or maybe watching someone's "review/sales pitch/recommendation" at RUclips is enough of enjoying a product for me. If I wait and forget it, it usually means it's not something I should get. When I see so many similar products, I find that it takes a lot for one to stand out enough for me to actually purchase it. I encourage everyone to stop following people at Insta. whose posts don't bring you joy. If they make you feel anything negative, just unfollow. There are plenty of others. Use a hashtag search and find some new people. There's tons of cool nature pic posters that will show you nature that you'll never get to see any other way. There's some awesome art and architecture too.
I'm with you 100% on the consumerism thing. The great thing about any social media platform is that we control who we follow. I deleted Facebook and Twitter because they were toxic, and I created IG and RUclips accounts that make me happy, so it's working for now.
Honestly, this is why I follow less than 100 people at any given time. If their posts on my feed don’t make me happy or inspire me in some way, it’s not worth it to me. And it has been harder and harder to find people who aren’t posting sponsored post after sponsored post. I love this one account that does a question of the day with her planner posts and she engages with every. Single. Comment. It’s incredible. It’s so refreshing to feel an actual connection. So I get where you’re coming from, my way of coping was figuring out who I genuinely liked to see on my feed, and I understand your decision too. I hope that you start feeling better health wise, you’ve been in my prayers actually (I’m a worrier first and foremost lol). I’m a 21 year old college student and you are by far the most inspiring person I follow in this community. Your candidness and honesty is so refreshing in this community. Thank you for this series, I’ve been enjoying it so much
I feel the uptick in 'sell-sell-sell' stuff online all over is because because people need the money more than we need to make purchases. I can't begrudge people for needing to make a nickle. That doesn't mean we need to participate in it. ;) When you are entrenched into a community it's much easier to see the cracks. Imma gonna do me. They can do them.
I'm glad you did this video, because I'm new to the journal-calligraphy-crafty-art community and have been vulnerable to creating debt. I look at reviews and then lost money on bad products that were recommended by several. I see that a lot of journalers have giveaways with stuff they either don't want or need or were given, but you gotta hashtag post, follow how many others in hopes for the chance of a free thing to save yourself from spending. I stopped FB for a while because I got tired of my free time seeing ignorants claiming masks aren't necessary when I still see these people already in the grocery store. I see videos where people have hundreds and hundreds of pens, only some of them are getting paid by youtube to show a review of them. Like what do they do with all those pens? I would ship them to the border kids. Thanks for being concerned about people's well-being and I hope you will feel better soon. I need to have an alert with product watching for myself and thanks to you I'm more aware of this. I have a few stencils and ink pads, a journal, some brush pens (not all the markers possible like sets), some fineliners, and some glaze to use with scraps. And rolls of washi tape, but not like a hundred. I need to make that work. I don't know which pens will fade and I don't have every appropriate paper or even paint. But I imagine there are so many that have less in the world. ❤
Such good points in this video. I fell victim to some of this FOMO mentality when I was using a different planner and bought all kinds of stuff I “thought” I was going to use. Then, once I switched planner companies I searched for inspiration on IG for that specific planner, and of course I found all of the influencers. My whole point in being involved in social media is to hopefully be an inspiration to others, not to inspire them to buy a certain thing. Good lord, I just figured out how to do my first story this week! I am also on a budget and talk about this often in my videos. I try to be very thoughtful of what I purchase now because of getting too wrapped up in crap I don’t need. Do I need sticker kits, no, but this is my “thing” that brings me joy. Do I buy the entire freaking kit with all kinds of pieces that I will not use? Heck no!! My Etsy “save for later” can attest to my think before you buy mentality now. I am not an influencer but admit to wanting to be one, however after your very valid points, I am not really sure I would want to be. I’ll stick to my pursuit of being an inspiration rather than an influencer. Thank you so much for always sharing your very candid and honest thoughts.
Amen. You put into words my thoughts. I want to restart my Instagramm without the "commercial noise" just because of this. Being a platform to show how to life with what you have. I myself want to get out of this race of consumerism and have a set budget for usesless "Junk" and thats it.
I totally agree with all of your points. Once I sense someone is just pumping out shit to sell to me I unfollow them immediately. The Nordstrom thing (I’m in Canada so it doesn’t really affect me as much) once I see it on their stories I skip through them right away. I’ve just been unfollowing people who don’t seem authentic. Hope all is well with you Cindy!
I think trying to make a living off the internet is one heck of a challenge. I’m glad I took another route. Regarding the merchandising issue - it’s going to be overwhelming on the internet because of the ease of posting and scheduling. I’m not just staying off Instagram but Facebook too and cutting back on RUclips. There was a time I enjoyed the internet but not so much anymore.
I’m going to post in the group, but I have loved you I’m pretty sure since the first time I saw or heard you. There is no one else like you (even remotely) you truly make me see/realize things I wouldn’t have typically. Thank you so much for this and all you do. You are truly an asset to the planner community and I wish there were more like you (genuine and real) but how many Cindy’s could we all actually handle 😳🤣 one thing though - I love seeing more videos and hearing your podcast (you know I’ll share) but when I see something new I get excited, then at the same time concerned. I really hope you are doing ok and you are at least able to manage symptoms. You are always in my thoughts. You are truly “the dude”!! Or “dudette” 🤣
awwww I appreciate that. i'm taking things slow - part of the reason I've been able to do more lately is that Jess has been able to work from the office once or twice a week (on days when no one else is there - we are super isolating still) so I have the chance to film and record. but like, yesterday I spent 75% of the day in bed because I was in so much pain. so it's a process
I have two IG accounts, one for friends and one for the planner community. I haven’t used my planner one in almost a month. I started it to follow fellow planners for inspiration, not ads. In fact, I have a self-imposed rule that if I see an ad for something I refuse to buy it. Now if someone orders new pens from Amazon and talks about them that’s different than being paid or getting them free. I just feel like every planner post is either an ad, a haul, a PR post, a sale, and very rarely their actual planner. Life is too mentally exhausting right now to be inundated by things that don’t make me happy.
I think one thing to keep in mind is that behind the “sales-iness” is people just trying to make a living during this pandemic. We’re all just trying our best right now to provide for ourselves and our family. I totally understand not wanting to be tempted to buy things right now though. ❤️
I do my best to follow just my friends and content that I'm interested in that is NOT consumer based - I have tried to stop following as many "influencers" as possible. Thanks for the reminder that we don't need to buy more crap to feel better.
I completely agree with you! Thank you for articulating what I knew I was feeling, yet couldn't verbalize myself. I have tried for so long to use Instagram to grow my channel, and it's just the same old consumerism BS over and over and over again. Not only are you expected to have perfectly curated and "cute" content, but you're also expected to follow trends that were put forth by the larger influencers in the community if you want to get likes and followers. For my mental health, I had to quit it, too.
I hope you feel better, get better soon. One of the main reasons I've never been consistent on IG is because I don't really curate my pictures, and I don't like how "markety" it feels.
Thank you, Cindy, for saying what I've been thinking for a while. I appreciate when a person raves about a product repeatedly and they add a "swipe up and you can buy it too!" BUT as you said, when does this separation of the 'genuine-ness' from 'I think you should buy this thing because I'm getting paid to tell you to buy the thing' occur? The influencer population has exploded since COVID hit and I don't appreciate this play by the companies. They're suffering BUT so are the rest of us, most of us more than these large companies.
I had to trim down/mute some of the people and hashtags I was following because I started noticing the same things being posted constantly. I use Instagram (probably incorrectly) to see what's new in the sticker shops I love and for sales, as well as to get inspiration for my planning style. I'm still learning and tweaking what works and doesn't for me so I came to Instagram to help. At first, it was, and still does, but as I mentioned at the start, I had to take a step back and look at who I was following. It felt like so much ... fake? I don't even know how to describe it. Then there's the issue of noticing that I "run out" of Instagram because I've pared down who I'm following. I feel this lack of creativity because now that all those SAME are silenced, I'm having a hard time finding the actual creative people I set out to follow. I would consider myself new to Instagram so this was eye-opening for me.
I deleted my insta a couple of years ago because of this, it was so much buy buy buy. I have one atm but I’m mostly a lurker to follow people I like. But it’s still managing to be too much. The staging of the photos to have trendy products in the shot that aren’t actually used in the planner spread. I feel like I’m pretty good at not getting things just because they’re popular or falling into the traps of follow the trends. But then I watch something about waste and energy and think of all the things people are buying and it makes me sad.
As a history nerd thank you for dispelling the let them eat cake myth! I don't use instagram partly because of this - I get serious FOMO and just find it unsettling to my inner peace. I've never used it because of this actually. I'm also really selective about my RUclips subscriptions for the same reason. I follow you and 3 other youtubers because from the videos I have watched they are all very real about what they review, use, and suggest.
I follow the crafting industry, cards and scrapbooking mainly and I don't really get any of that stuff. I wonder why it's in the planner community so much. As someone who is also sickly I hope your health improves , sending you good thoughts.
DANNNNNGGGGG CINDY! Why you gotta’ ask good questions that require answers?! 😂 I look at Instagram like a mall. I go there to see what everyone is “selling” whether it’s food, clothes, jewelry, inspiration (that’s a product nowadays), planner stuff, etc.... I also sell stuff on there. I was just telling my cousin that when I say I need to “unplug” from social media, it only pertains to Facebook because that’s the REAL social media. Twitter would probably annoy me too, but I just feel like that’s a platform for rich people 🤷🏽♀️ If anything good happens on Twitter, it’ll be on Reddit anyway! Ok, that was a tangent but, yeah...everything you said was spot on. You have to be the smartest and most controlled shopper you’ve ever been in 2020, otherwise you’ll be in debt. Period!
I’ve completely quit Instagram a few times throughout its existence. The first time it was because I realized I was becoming obsessed over the appearance of my posts on Instagram and their responses. I hated traveling and having part of my brain focused on posting my pictures on Instagram, so I permanently deleted that account. a few years later I started a new account and severely limited my followers to close friends that I actually engage with. But the second time I deleted it was the consumerism!! I was obsessed with clothes and constantly thinking about buying things like that, I so I deleted it and left it alone for a year, recently I downloaded it again, and I’m currently grappling with whether or not I should let it go again. I started getting NOTIFICATIONS about things I should buy and that is disgusting, I really don’t need constant reminders to shop.
Great review of the state of social media. I also understand some of it may be due to people needing to supplement their income, but at the expense if those who they are trying to influence. I hope you can enjoy some mashed potatoes and gravy.
It’s the same way in the makeup community, too. And the high school bitchiness bs is also a big part of it. The drama and in-fighting is unreal. I can’t even try to watch those videos anymore except for one person. I totally get what you’re saying. Stay away from anything stressful. I have 4 autoimmune diseases and one really impacts my kidneys. I almost died about a year ago, so I have a sense of what your life is like on the days (that turn into months) where my kidneys don’t want to function. It’s indescribable. Stress just makes it worse. You can’t avoid stress because, you know, your life; but you can avoid unnecessary stress and it looks like you’ve clearly identified what a source of that unnecessary stress is. Run, girl! Love your channel and your honesty. I love how you keep it real. Thank you for that.💗
I have had end stage renal disease for 30 years (I’m 35). I did dialysis for 10 years until my third kidney transplant last year . It super sucks and most days all I wanted to do was sleep. If you ever need someone to talk to I am here. Also, social media overall has been shitty lately. I’ve been avoiding them lately and opting to get back into reading books and listening to history podcasts.
Haven’t even watched yet but I also am kind of quitting instagram. It feels like small artists are doomed to fail and I might just use my account as a gallery view of the things I make rather than trying to find new followers
This was really timely and interesting. I noticed this week that someone was posting about the Nordstrom sale and listed everything she was buying with pictures and links. I thought that was really wierd, but hey, I'm in the UK so what do I know about shopping culture in the USA? However, it was when all of the EC Hello Kitty stuff started flooding my feed that I went 'Whoa!" It was rather relentless, and it is everywhere, in storied, in videos, on the grid - everywhere, with everyone telling you to use their link in the bio to shop. I have noticed that there is no criticism of the products - it's just glowing reviews about how amazing it is. And you're right - do we need this stuff? No. And I have a very very hard time beleiving that those who are promoting this stuff actually *need* it. I also find it massively interesting that those who are promoting this latest EC launch are those 'influencers' who stopped posting about EC for all of 3 seconds back in June, and then immediately jumped on the bandwagon again and gleefully grabbed the free products which were sent to them. Kind of nauseating, actually. Instagram seems to be full of people trying to sell you stuff, athough it is rather wonderful to find those gems of accounts with wonderful, inspiring, non-consumerist content. Well said, Cindy. PS We still want you on Instagram - don't disappear, as there is a wealth of goodness you can offer up for us which we will enjoy.
I've been unfollowing a lot of people and following new, much smaller accounts, people who don't get paid/get some sort of kickback to promote products. Even then, it feels like those who are "smaller" are all promoting products for free in the hopes of one day making money on posts. It bums me out and the consumerism of the planning hobby has always bothered me. All I can do is buy what I actually use intentionally and take a break from posting on IG while I try to figure out what I can post about that isn't just "look at this stuff I bought." I want to be more creative than that.
I agree and have stopped some people on Instagram and RUclips who plug sells so much. Telling you they buy this cheap home stuff you don't need and no sign of it there backgrounds when filming. People are really struggling at the moment. Thank you for your honesty. X
I am very wary of planner accounts whose planners are suspiciously unused. They constantly post their newest and latest, flipping through pages and inserts and sections and accessories that are ... empty?! And they breezily say that they haven't gotten around to filling it out yet, blah blah. Then what/why are you showing? I much prefer the planner/journal people who share what they use and you can tell that it's truly loved. You can see why XYZ is working for them!
Thank you for highlighting the weirdness of pushing people to shop in-store during a pandemic. I found some pretty great stuff on clearance at a certain store right before quarantine and have been waiting months (and counting) to post a video about it because I don't want to encourage anyone to make an unnecessary trip. Someday, I'll feel okay about posting such things. Not yet. Be well. 🌿
I totally agree with you!! I rarely go on IG...I don’t think I’ve ever posted on there...lol 😂 Some days I don’t even go on FB!! I have noticed on RUclips so many videos are doing a lot of sponsored & affiliated material & makes me wonder if the person really likes the product or just trying to “sell” you the item or items...to me it seems like their doing it a lot more...maybe I’m wrong?? Just feels like it... I know Cindy you are being honest about products...just makes a person wonder!! Lately, I’ve been thinking about all the crap I’ve bought...and the stuff I use or don’t use...
The one thing I noticed is when all the influencers jumped ship from using EC products they all started promoting other products like crazy! I just feel like some took advantage of the situation to push other products very heavily. This has really made me think about the way I am sharing my own instagram content to be more aware of those having financial hardships during this time. Thanks Cindy for a great thought provoking video!
But if you look on EC Instagram they are liking everything that is posted lol they will go back, give them time
Actually I appreciated being able to see what options were out there. Maybe it was a little bit of an opportunity to remind us and to support smaller companies with good products, especially those owned by POC. To not just automatically go for what's popular but to actually think about what fills your needs and makes you feel good about your purchase.
Audrey Campbell good point and like I said definitely making me think about the way I share my content on instagram
Yep I noticed this too. And I especially noticed the "but I can separate the person from the brand" ones. Those ones really didn't agree with my feeling at the time so I unfollowed 99% of them. Those I kept were those who I enjoy other media of theirs (YT channels or podcasts) and those who did not push other products but simply stated their reasoning for doing whatever they were doing, and them left it alone.
I thought it was strange they all had new planners within the same week
It always blows my mind how rarely folks actually *finish/use” their planners. There’s a launch and six months left in a planner and folks are on to the newest thing. Not my money, but so fascinating and confusing to observe.
This might not be something everyone can do but I started unfollowing alot of big name people because of this. Pre-pandemic it didnt really bother me but I think because I am just so angry with everything going on right now, that I just cant take another swipe up for this item. I started following alot of these people because I enjoyed how their planners looked and was inspired. Now I just feel kinda used in a way. Used for my time and money. The products that I promote I want to genuinely use them and enjoy using them. Not use them once then throw them to the side. Anyway...kinda was all over the place but great video as always! Thanks for inspiring people to not go consumerism crazy.
That might be part of my issue too - I'm so frustrated with so much right now that I'm projecting. Yay dumpster fire world. sigh
SAME!
I started blogging and using social media in 2004 and have seen it all. Right now, everything feels extra gross to me too. I've also stepped way back on pretty much everything online because in my opinion, there's no way to work authentically with brands anymore. Either you pander to the brand or you pander to the algorithms to get your head above water. I'm not saying that there's nobody out there doing a great job of it - I just don't know who those people are. As a consumer, I don't want to hear paid only opinions or why would I bother following you? And I don't want to see 50 similar posts because that's what the algorithm likes either. I feel so old when I say this but, back in the day when I started, it was about finding like minded people and that is no longer at the core of what social media is. That's why I am here to watch your channel. I appreciate your thoughts in this space.
I quit Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter July 1st. I watched and read a lot about why I should not be on it- then a Jaron Lanier video from The NY Times hit it home for me. None of these platforms paid me to create content on their platform, but they make money from all of the eyeballs all of us bring to them. Just that simple idea was enough for me. I kept RUclips around, because technically they’ll share their revenue with any serious creator, even if it is a small amount. Plus, there is more of an opportunity for me to view something educational and entertaining that’s not framed in a “thirst” way. Authentic videos like this one that makes me feel like I’m chatting with someone else are all over this platform.
"thirst" - hmmm yeah
Hey was that a ted talk from Jaron you watched? I'm curious because I saw a ted talk about a year ago that had talked about studies that were done on social media and the effect it had on people who used it, compared to the effect it had on people who did not use it. They found overwhelmingly that people who did not use it were happier, more content with their lives, and felt that what they had was enough. They also found that those who did not use it also did not experience anywhere near the frequency or depth of depression and anxiety. I was surprised at first but it makes sense.
@@goldenretrievermom7945 it was "Jaron Lanier Fixes the Internet" - the part that got me was the visualization of the IV pull the blue liquid from the back of someone's neck towards the end. Social media needs us to survive, it needs our data. Right now I'm okay with giving my data to RUclips. I don't want to be cynical about it though. Good things will come from this I'm sure.
I appreciate you! Seeing you promote items and saying “get these if you think you’ll love them and you NEED them”. It’s nice to see an influential person being real 💕
I cut the fat last year! I started my Instagram account to be inspired and inspire others to USE our planners. I kept seeing all of the buy-all-the-things posts and got tired and discouraged to post. After a while, in need of some interactions with others that like planners like me, I started to use my account after I did a massive unfollowing. I unfollowed all the accounts that didn't fit with my views and needs, like shops, the so-called "influencers", and the plaster-all-the-stickers-but-don't-actually-use-their-planners, etc. Now, I'm more happy with my feed and I'm able to interact more with people that actually use their planners because in the end, as pretty as a planner can be, I need it to actually plan and get things done.
I have a simple solution: don't follow "influencers." I keep my "follow" list very small and as far as I know, I'm not following any influencers. There are a couple of Irish photographers who technically are, but I ignore the posts where they're obviously flogging some product (usually cars or the Huawei phones that aren't available here anyway lol--you'll pry my iPhone from my cold, dead fingers...). The ads on IG are bad enough, I'm not going to be a glutton for punishment.
I like your theory, friend. I like it a lot.
My problem with IG and a lot of social media is that everyone complains about the pressures of needing to be perfect , and how noone actually looks like that in the real world, and products dont look like that in real life, and yet NOONE is doing anything to change it. My IG is filled with imperfect pictures etc, and i up front say i dont buy into the whole perfection bullshit, and yet i still get asked to make this more staged and pretty. GAH! Makes me to f***ing angry
Preach!!!
dude, i FEEL this.
You can follow me - I rarely post and when I do, it is definitely NOT perfect :D
and it's gluten-free! Not a single piece of wheat! :D (I never know what account I'm signed in as - IG is AlmstHvn).
Let's be totally imperfect together!
wtf who would ask you to do that? whoever they are is a douche. and my pictures are imperfect too, friend.
What’s ur Instagram missron?
Great post Cindy! Social media has negatively impacted my mental wellness since COVID-19 started. I decided to permanently delete Facebook at the end of June and took my Instagram to the bare minimum. I don’t follow any “influencer” accounts nor do I watch any RUclips videos from those people. It’s been a fabulous change and I’m much happier for it. Cheers!
I watch searched content most on YT.
This is honestly an amazing video. I feel so put off by the planner community for this very reason..I just want to watch people plan so i can learn some cool tips but the amount of merch that gets thrown in my direction..from brumate to furniture to whatever else..its so disingenuous n im so happy someone with a loud enough voice said this..
I'm skipping "plan with me" because it's not the plan at all.
I honestly think that people have become literally behaviorally addicted to the positive affirmations they get on social media.
I guess there's one advantage to having had a stroke last year - I'd forgotten about instagram and haven't missed it.
I hope you've been recovering as best as you can (my dad died from a stroke so my heart dropped when I read that)
@@CindyGuentertBaldo it was a cognitive stroke (no limbs affected) but it's taken me ages to learn to read again and my memory is shot to hell. Thinking about it, that's not such a bad thing 😊
This was so relatable. Ive mostly exited all social media during the pandemic. I had a shopping addiction a few years ago and have outcome it through LOTS of therapy. Mostly social media has infuriated me recently because of people not giving a shit about the pandemic and going out for no reason and clearly demonstrating they dont care. Im also an a disabled, chronically ill, high risk person. Ive been alone in my dark apartment for 5 months. And other people aren’t even trying. Thanks for the video. Sending good vibes for your health.
I unfollowed so many of the influencers and it was such a great decision. You have always been such a wise soul, you stood out from the rest.
Cindy, your editing is delightful. The slow push in during the oil and water /gravy bit is so good.
The money grabbing and monetizing things is so tone deaf and lacking of a "read the room" in a time when the "room" needs to be read more often than ever. And then when their defensiveness is offensive and they say, "you're on MY page." Come on now. Really? Whether someone is hyping something for their own financial kickbacks or they are doing it for free stuff? It's the same no matter the time, day, or social media account.
Hope you are feeling better.....I have been feeling the same way so I took the app off my phone and now only go on to look at stories every now and then, I don't miss it.
I have similar thoughts and feelings about Bookstagram, especially with the enormous bookshelves, and the piles of expensive/shiny new release books. There are certain blogs I just can not go to any more, because I just can't keep up with their reading style, and I struggle with impulse purchasing. I know that will sound silly, but I can't purchase a book I'm probably never going to read if I don't know anything about it. If a social media platform is giving you bad vibes or you notice negative behaviour after visiting certain sites, it's best to stay away from it. Take care
You go! I’m out of the planner community and into the paper-crafting community but I still pop by occasionally and you are always refreshing. Yes, I’m seeing the same thing with paper-crafting. Thank you.
Don’t feel bad Cindy my health also got bad during the pandemic. I really hope you get better soon. I loved meeting you at the ny planner addicts masquerade ball last year
awwwwwww hugs to you as well
Cindy Guentert-Baldo thanks so much Cindy I hope you feel better soon! Best wishes
For 15 years I worked for ad agencies. Then one day I was like why am I trying to get people to buy stuff they don’t need? So when you said pimping out stuff people don’t need, that really hit home with me. I switched careers and for over a decade have worked in healthcare which makes me feel good about what I do. I am ragey about the Nordstrom shit. WTH? We are in a pandemic. Stay home. As a healthcare worker, I’m frustrated with the apathy people have about other human beings.
In my former life with littles I had 2 direct marketing product sales businesses. We were a starving military family. I was a married single mom.
Both products sold themselves. 1 was a bit more complicated and changed colors so often that guaranteed replacement parts didn't match. I gave up on the product in my own home!
The other was very easy. I left that business because morally I couldn't wrap my head around that my top sales were with people who had no money to buy the crap and traded food or late paid utilities for it! Seriously?
When I lived in military housing, my top sales were double income earner households. I could handle that. Not so much in Florida. (I'm near Charleston now and this knew physically broken life came with me.)
~Heidi
I use instagram literally to be nosy at this point. I like seeing people's planner layouts, but a lot posted nowadays seems to be specifically to show off xyz item from Notiq or whatnot. Same for the clothes thing, buying clothes kind of takes a background right now to affording food and a place to live. And I feel like there's a lot of people who do that with like, Target clothes, constantly getting new items, constantly selling the "looks" on their instagram page. It's why I like the sustainable fashion community, they're also anti-consumerism and pro-using what you have, pro- making your own, pro altering old clothes to make them work.
Cindy, I really feel for you and your having to go through serious health issues and the pain they cause!!!! Congrats on prioritizing where to put your energy!! It’s so important and yet so challenging to actually do so!
Preach! I fell back from Instagram a while back because of this exact reason. I don't think that I even realized this was the reason why. I just became irritated by the stuff on my feed. I was no longer inspired by the people and things that were being presented. It didn't make me feel good and no "scrolling past" fixed it. I too wonder if I have been following the wrong people but having recently checked back into it I felt the same. Just isn't the place for me right now in my journey. All the best to you!
You are 100% correct! I went through a spending spree when the lockdown first happened. I think it was due to stress, and I found comfort in it. Now I look at this stuff and just shake my head. Ugh! I’m done with social media. I’ve also been deleting any email selling anything. Out of sight, out of mind!
Self care: my IG is only things that lower my blood pressure like dogs, lettering, and old houses and Ethel the Glamour Tort(oise).
Yes this has zero to do with planners. That’s on purpose. I hope you change your IG to be peaceful, relaxing images. Stay safe, stay well.
Very nice! I agree with your mentality.
True! Everyone is doing this! Everyone is trying to generate funds, followers, likes, etc. Just cut the noise, folks. I never was one to follow folks - just to follow. I am always aware that I have to protect my space. That space can be one's mind, body, family, etc. It's hard for me to give partial control of that to some external earthly entity. Yep, Cut the Noise. Right now concentrating a one's self-being is key. Times are hard & I have a feeling it's going to get harder before it gets better. So traverse life carefully. I hope I'm making sense. Stay safe & take care, ya'll!
I just emptied all my carts 😂😂😂 Thanks Cindy. You just saved me big $$$ On another note: the planner community “influencers” who were up in arms after the EC situation, for sure will be slinging that Hello Kitty collab shit in a few days 🤦🏽♀️ #moneytalks #affiliatecodesrule 🥴
i'm out of the loop - hello kitty shit? oh boy.
Finished watching this video (one of the few planner related ones I watch) went back to my RUclips home page and what do I see...EC and Hello Kitty!
Cindy Guentert-Baldo It will be everywhere you look 👀 in 3-2-1 🥴
It's already starting with the hello kitty stuff... I saw one post and felt like I need to duck.
Amen! I already saw so many pimping out that Hello Kitty CRAP! 🙄🤦🏽♀️😒🤬
Good for you, Cindy! Healthy boundaries are essential in all aspects of life. Feel better. ❤️
Thank you for this video! It was super timely for me. I enjoy the planner community on all social media currently, but by FAR the hardest part for me is the sheer amount of items that I feel like I *”need”* to try. The scariest part is how insidious that can be... even though my brain knows how influencing works, it still creeps in. I do my best to call myself out but it’s hard and sometimes I straight up ignore my own common sense. It’s super helpful to hear it laid out by someone else, especially someone in the community! Thanks for always doing you. 💛
I agree 100% with this video!!! Not on IG much or FB and I’m being picky with which YT influencers I watch because I’m sick of product reviews that people get for free but are asking their followers to go out and purchase. Excellent coverage of this topic!!!
This is why I love you, girl! I feel the exact same way about IG lately and have cut back on it as well. I also notice IG itself showing me a shit ton more sponsored ads! Like one night it was EVERY OTHER PHOTO was an ad from IG. And then most of the things I was seeing from people I followed was all sponsored crap too. It's just too much. I'm trying to save money and just stock our pantry with food right now. I feel like people's priorities are a little different right now and the all ads all the time thing isn't working for most people.
I honestly feel this way about social media in general. I do my best to be selective about who I follow. If I feel myself getting aggravated I unfollow them. I know exactly what you mean about everyone sharing the same thing over and over. It just gets boring seeing the same crap every where
I'm really proud of many influencers now using and pimping their own products. Those are my real stranger friends. ~Heidi
I stopped following lots of shops, and started following more people like you who share their life and share interesting things rather than always selling to me :) it's made my Instagram much more enjoyable!!
This summer has been the summer of UNFOLLOW for both people and hashtags, I'm still working on trimming down my list to only follow accounts that i find inspirational or just plain fun (i.e. cats/dogs/nature photography). The idea oddly enough came from an influencer "follow who want, but if you feel sick/annoyed/shitty from looking at their feed or stories, unfollow them. you dont owe them your energy".
As a recent convert to Passion Planner, thats the only planner related content i follow so far not so not bad, not fake, not sales-y.
You speak what I have felt also. I have unfollowed so many planner influencers because I found myself falling into the rabbit hole of buying planner things I don’t need. I finally had to just get real with myself.
I felt this way 4 years ago, part of why I distanced myself from the community. I love you for always speaking the truth, Cindy. ❤
This video sure opens your eyes, the distrust is so big right now. I have to say that someone big in the community really disappointed and hurt my soul. Being fairly new and too trustworthy got me "fan girling" big time only to find out that this person is so fake. The person only cares about if you can do something for them, give them stuff for free, or can benefit them in some way. All I can say is big life lessons have been learned within the past six months for me. I appreciate you being so real, so blunt, and most of all HONEST! I am currently a PR for a group but I truly believe in the company, love their products which I buy myself and use not just for advertising purposes. I will not sell lies or my integrity just so I get stuff for free. I advertise or post because I truly love something. Thank you, thank you for opening my eyes to so much in this video, thank you for having lives on Sundays because I truly look forward to them every week, and thank you for just being you. I think your fricken awesome! My husband and I both laugh and enjoy YOU as a person, not to mention you inspire me to use my creative side and open up and slowly learn to just don't give a shit what people think. So thank you for your time, I know its precious and you choosing to use some of that time to be with us is awesome and I love it!!! Its in my planner every week as "Cindy and her amazing Fuckery time" Love ya!
I'm glad to hear your thoughts on this, Cindy. I've been feeling the same way about Instagram lately. I follow a number of fountain pen groups and influencers and it's the same thing - when something new comes out, I get photos and links to stores and links to videos all reviewing the same pen. A crappy pen that I and most people don't need because we have a hundred already. Oh look! It's a new colour! It'll change your life! There's way too much stuff going on in the world right now for me to care about crap like that and so I've unsubscribed to a lot of pages and groups and have generally not engaged with the platform much lately. I understand that people have sponsorship deals and relationships with companies and that's totally fine and if people get about excited about it, that's great for them. For me, it's just not something I want to be a part of anymore.
I can’t even remember the last time I was on Instagram. My life has been utter chaos with a sick furry, who I had to let go the rainbow bridge today, a wreck 3 weeks ago that really messed my back and hips up, AND because of COVID-19 depression that led to the PTSD from my husbands death resurfacing, your videos are about the only ones I watch on the regular. I was a 3.75 gpa student who had to drop out of college for a few coming months to give myself time to back up and regroup because I could not do it. I had 6 months to go until graduation and I just couldn’t anymore.
I totally understand where you're coming from. I'm a small business owner and now that so many physical stores are closing indefinitely, the "so-called experts" are creating a sense of panic for small business owners that if you aren't creating a presence online you're sealing your fate. I don't believe in high-pressure sales and am sensitive to the uncertainty many are feeling so I prefer to provide what I hope is helpful content more than product posts.
I actually had to go through my Insta about a month ago and unfollow a bunch of accounts because they either gave me major fomo or they made me feel crummy. Much happier now and don't scroll through a bunch of stuff I don't need.
Thank you so much for talking about this. I've been off IG for about a month and before the pandemic I had been off for about a year. I'm just so much happier and more engaged with the things/people I love without it.
I don’t follow many people in the planner community on IG. I mostly follow artists and it’s honestly a breath of fresh air. I have started unfollowing large accounts that complain when their engagement is low or when the algorithm is “hiding’ their posts.
Oooh Cindy I am praying that you recover fast, well and soon . I discovered you during the pandemic. Thank you for everything you're doing. I didn't know you were sick.
First, support to you as you go through the renal illness.
Second, I subbed you when I started bullet journaling simply because you seemed real to me.
I think wannabe “influencers” are in a hurry to quit their regular jobs, to make the bank to do so. They might also lack some faith in their subscribers and community, or maybe lack faith in themselves and their ability to build a business.
I want to start a BuJo channel and I feel the pressure to become an affiliate, because I want to back off of my hours at my retail job. It’s hard on me physically, but since I have to have benefits, I can’t quit the job altogether. But I know it’s rare to make money through social media, despite what they want us to believe.
BuJo has given me a life raft through depression, anxiety, grief, and illness, and I want to share that with others who can benefit. If any companies approach me, though, I think I would feel hesitant to peddle their stuff.
Take care, Cindy.
- Ben
I’ve noticed this not only on Instagram, but on TikTok as well. I like to scroll through TikTok for funny videos, and I’ve constantly been getting videos of “things you need from amazon!”. Some are influencers, others are just random everyday folks. I get this sense of fomo, and then buy the product, and then I feel guilty. Lately, I find myself scrolling at 1am, adding to cart but not checking out. In the mornings I wake up, and just delete everything in my cart. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by it all.
I absolutely needed to hear this today since Happy Planner is doing a warehouse sale and the planner I wanted is 60% off.
I have unfollowed so many people on Instagram because of this. I don't follow someone on Instagram to have them hawk shit to me incessantly. I appreciate your straight talk, as always 👍
I have no tolerance for people on social media that will repeatedly try to sell products to me. A while ago, I decided that my Instagram feed should be somewhat of a vision board. So I only follow accounts that I find visually pleasing or inspiring. And I have a similar approach on my personal account with the exception that I’ll follow family and friends...but none that post toxic content in whatever form it may be. Enjoyed your video 💙 Sending you a virtual hug 🤗
I avoid the influencers and their swipe-ups like I avoid the kiosks at the mall. (Well, how I used to avoid the kiosks. I haven't been to a mall in months.) It just all seems so disingenuous and is a big turn-off for me.
As an Etsy shop owner, I feel pressured to have an Instagram account for advertising BUT I refuse to do it. I want people to purchase from me because of my items, not because of a perfect LIE caught in pixels. It has intimidated me for 2 years and I have kept from opening because of it. You have given me the courage to forget the hype about must having an Instagram as a shop owner. My new opinion is "If they purchase my items, it will be because my designs caught their attention and not a photo prompt on instagram". So ty hun, I really appreciate it.
It's interesting how much this cuts across all sorts of communities I engage with. I hope companies re-evaluate how they work with influencers because I feel like consumers (in general, not just planner consumers) are getting wise to these ways. It's a marketing method that people are getting more immune to and if companies still want us to buy the way we were in the Before Times (although I doubt that will happen any time soon) they have to come up with new marketing methods.
P.S. I want turkey and gravy now, too.
Yeah, that's something I was thinking about as I made the video. I've noticed this elsewhere, the planner shit and the nordstrom shit were just my main examples.
Thank you for this video! I spoke on it a bit on my IG account. I too agree with some people who will say they “love” a product because it was free, and not because they truly love it. I tend to only promote things I really love whether it’s something I bought or was sent. But overall IG can feel like one big ad
Always appreciate your candor! I am definitely more cautious these days as well because agree it’s not a great look especially in a recession.
Hello Cindy, I started watching your channel shortly after lockdown beganbecause of one of your videos about what to do with random art suppliesI began January with the intention of having a low spend year this is not what I had in mind LOL in any case I've gotten to love your channel and your posts here because of how authentic you are you've made me laugh and I really appreciate that. I also Neil with health challenges myself so even though they are very different (I have spastic diplegia cerebral palsy) I can relate to some of what you're talkin about it helps me feel connected on days I feel alone . Thank you for that as well.and the only reason I am on Instagram is to keep in touch with my sister who will be leaving for Seattle University very soon I hope the folks at Instagram are listeningI hope the influencing others are listening too you have some wonderful points and I could talk all day about inspiration porn that I see being posted by some companies, clearly using the disabled community as a marketing device we all deserve nice things , but there is a time for everything
I love this so much and agree 💯. Sending you healing vibes 💕
Hi Cindy. Prayers going out to you and your health situation. Thank you for making this video and taking on the topics that so many others avoid. I get that Instagram is one big online fashion magazine with ad after ad disguised as someone sharing cool stuff. I get when times are hard, retailers have to push harder to stay in business. Personally, I really like Insta. It's visual candy for me. I especially love seeing everyone's art and cool planner page layouts. I've tried enough products to know what I like and what I don't like, so I unfollow anyone who isn't posting things I like seeing. I also keep a wish list, which forces me to stay in budget and have a cooling period between seeing, wanting, and purchasing. Often times I find just seeing some things on Insta. or maybe watching someone's "review/sales pitch/recommendation" at RUclips is enough of enjoying a product for me. If I wait and forget it, it usually means it's not something I should get. When I see so many similar products, I find that it takes a lot for one to stand out enough for me to actually purchase it. I encourage everyone to stop following people at Insta. whose posts don't bring you joy. If they make you feel anything negative, just unfollow. There are plenty of others. Use a hashtag search and find some new people. There's tons of cool nature pic posters that will show you nature that you'll never get to see any other way. There's some awesome art and architecture too.
I'm with you 100% on the consumerism thing. The great thing about any social media platform is that we control who we follow. I deleted Facebook and Twitter because they were toxic, and I created IG and RUclips accounts that make me happy, so it's working for now.
Honestly, this is why I follow less than 100 people at any given time. If their posts on my feed don’t make me happy or inspire me in some way, it’s not worth it to me. And it has been harder and harder to find people who aren’t posting sponsored post after sponsored post. I love this one account that does a question of the day with her planner posts and she engages with every. Single. Comment. It’s incredible. It’s so refreshing to feel an actual connection. So I get where you’re coming from, my way of coping was figuring out who I genuinely liked to see on my feed, and I understand your decision too. I hope that you start feeling better health wise, you’ve been in my prayers actually (I’m a worrier first and foremost lol). I’m a 21 year old college student and you are by far the most inspiring person I follow in this community. Your candidness and honesty is so refreshing in this community. Thank you for this series, I’ve been enjoying it so much
That sounds like a great account! What is her handle?
Sarah Spain there’s one called @thestudycollection, I think that’s the one I was thinking of
I guess it just doesn't really bother me. I just scroll past posts like that. Same with videos for flip thrus or unboxings. I just skip it.
Thank you for saying this Cindy. We're all thinking it, but you did a great job articulating it. 💯
I have not ever been to Instagram and am now thankful that I have not! Thank you for your candidness.
I feel the uptick in 'sell-sell-sell' stuff online all over is because because people need the money more than we need to make purchases. I can't begrudge people for needing to make a nickle. That doesn't mean we need to participate in it. ;) When you are entrenched into a community it's much easier to see the cracks. Imma gonna do me. They can do them.
totally - like, I don't at all begrudge people trying to make money. I do it too! the tone of it is what bothers me.
You've just wrote how I feel in a nice precise way. My comment ended an essay!
@@CindyGuentertBaldo Yes. This x100.
I'm glad you did this video, because I'm new to the journal-calligraphy-crafty-art community and have been vulnerable to creating debt. I look at reviews and then lost money on bad products that were recommended by several. I see that a lot of journalers have giveaways with stuff they either don't want or need or were given, but you gotta hashtag post, follow how many others in hopes for the chance of a free thing to save yourself from spending. I stopped FB for a while because I got tired of my free time seeing ignorants claiming masks aren't necessary when I still see these people already in the grocery store. I see videos where people have hundreds and hundreds of pens, only some of them are getting paid by youtube to show a review of them. Like what do they do with all those pens? I would ship them to the border kids. Thanks for being concerned about people's well-being and I hope you will feel better soon. I need to have an alert with product watching for myself and thanks to you I'm more aware of this. I have a few stencils and ink pads, a journal, some brush pens (not all the markers possible like sets), some fineliners, and some glaze to use with scraps. And rolls of washi tape, but not like a hundred. I need to make that work. I don't know which pens will fade and I don't have every appropriate paper or even paint. But I imagine there are so many that have less in the world. ❤
Such good points in this video. I fell victim to some of this FOMO mentality when I was using a different planner and bought all kinds of stuff I “thought” I was going to use. Then, once I switched planner companies I searched for inspiration on IG for that specific planner, and of course I found all of the influencers. My whole point in being involved in social media is to hopefully be an inspiration to others, not to inspire them to buy a certain thing. Good lord, I just figured out how to do my first story this week! I am also on a budget and talk about this often in my videos. I try to be very thoughtful of what I purchase now because of getting too wrapped up in crap I don’t need. Do I need sticker kits, no, but this is my “thing” that brings me joy. Do I buy the entire freaking kit with all kinds of pieces that I will not use? Heck no!! My Etsy “save for later” can attest to my think before you buy mentality now. I am not an influencer but admit to wanting to be one, however after your very valid points, I am not really sure I would want to be. I’ll stick to my pursuit of being an inspiration rather than an influencer. Thank you so much for always sharing your very candid and honest thoughts.
Amen. You put into words my thoughts. I want to restart my Instagramm without the "commercial noise" just because of this. Being a platform to show how to life with what you have. I myself want to get out of this race of consumerism and have a set budget for usesless "Junk" and thats it.
I totally agree with all of your points. Once I sense someone is just pumping out shit to sell to me I unfollow them immediately. The Nordstrom thing (I’m in Canada so it doesn’t really affect me as much) once I see it on their stories I skip through them right away.
I’ve just been unfollowing people who don’t seem authentic.
Hope all is well with you Cindy!
I think trying to make a living off the internet is one heck of a challenge. I’m glad I took another route. Regarding the merchandising issue - it’s going to be overwhelming on the internet because of the ease of posting and scheduling. I’m not just staying off Instagram but Facebook too and cutting back on RUclips. There was a time I enjoyed the internet but not so much anymore.
I’m going to post in the group, but I have loved you I’m pretty sure since the first time I saw or heard you. There is no one else like you (even remotely) you truly make me see/realize things I wouldn’t have typically. Thank you so much for this and all you do. You are truly an asset to the planner community and I wish there were more like you (genuine and real) but how many Cindy’s could we all actually handle 😳🤣 one thing though - I love seeing more videos and hearing your podcast (you know I’ll share) but when I see something new I get excited, then at the same time concerned. I really hope you are doing ok and you are at least able to manage symptoms. You are always in my thoughts. You are truly “the dude”!! Or “dudette” 🤣
awwww I appreciate that. i'm taking things slow - part of the reason I've been able to do more lately is that Jess has been able to work from the office once or twice a week (on days when no one else is there - we are super isolating still) so I have the chance to film and record. but like, yesterday I spent 75% of the day in bed because I was in so much pain. so it's a process
I have two IG accounts, one for friends and one for the planner community. I haven’t used my planner one in almost a month. I started it to follow fellow planners for inspiration, not ads. In fact, I have a self-imposed rule that if I see an ad for something I refuse to buy it. Now if someone orders new pens from Amazon and talks about them that’s different than being paid or getting them free. I just feel like every planner post is either an ad, a haul, a PR post, a sale, and very rarely their actual planner. Life is too mentally exhausting right now to be inundated by things that don’t make me happy.
I think one thing to keep in mind is that behind the “sales-iness” is people just trying to make a living during this pandemic. We’re all just trying our best right now to provide for ourselves and our family. I totally understand not wanting to be tempted to buy things right now though. ❤️
I do my best to follow just my friends and content that I'm interested in that is NOT consumer based - I have tried to stop following as many "influencers" as possible. Thanks for the reminder that we don't need to buy more crap to feel better.
You are spot on! There you go! To the point. Love it. Feel better.
This video was on point. It’s not just Instagram, Facebook also. Lately it’s just sponsored ads after sponsored ads.
I completely agree with you! Thank you for articulating what I knew I was feeling, yet couldn't verbalize myself. I have tried for so long to use Instagram to grow my channel, and it's just the same old consumerism BS over and over and over again. Not only are you expected to have perfectly curated and "cute" content, but you're also expected to follow trends that were put forth by the larger influencers in the community if you want to get likes and followers. For my mental health, I had to quit it, too.
I'm not on instagram but I love how real you are and from what you're saying I think I'm better off without it.
I hope you feel better, get better soon. One of the main reasons I've never been consistent on IG is because I don't really curate my pictures, and I don't like how "markety" it feels.
Thank you, Cindy, for saying what I've been thinking for a while. I appreciate when a person raves about a product repeatedly and they add a "swipe up and you can buy it too!" BUT as you said, when does this separation of the 'genuine-ness' from 'I think you should buy this thing because I'm getting paid to tell you to buy the thing' occur? The influencer population has exploded since COVID hit and I don't appreciate this play by the companies. They're suffering BUT so are the rest of us, most of us more than these large companies.
I had to trim down/mute some of the people and hashtags I was following because I started noticing the same things being posted constantly. I use Instagram (probably incorrectly) to see what's new in the sticker shops I love and for sales, as well as to get inspiration for my planning style. I'm still learning and tweaking what works and doesn't for me so I came to Instagram to help. At first, it was, and still does, but as I mentioned at the start, I had to take a step back and look at who I was following. It felt like so much ... fake? I don't even know how to describe it.
Then there's the issue of noticing that I "run out" of Instagram because I've pared down who I'm following. I feel this lack of creativity because now that all those SAME are silenced, I'm having a hard time finding the actual creative people I set out to follow. I would consider myself new to Instagram so this was eye-opening for me.
Thank you for sharing your views and highlighting consumerism. I hope your health improves!! 🥰
I deleted my insta a couple of years ago because of this, it was so much buy buy buy. I have one atm but I’m mostly a lurker to follow people I like. But it’s still managing to be too much. The staging of the photos to have trendy products in the shot that aren’t actually used in the planner spread. I feel like I’m pretty good at not getting things just because they’re popular or falling into the traps of follow the trends. But then I watch something about waste and energy and think of all the things people are buying and it makes me sad.
This is a lovely and rough wakeup call for a lot of reflection for me - thanks Cindy
believe me, i'm actually doing the reflection on myself as well. (I'm not innocent of a lot of this stuff)
As a history nerd thank you for dispelling the let them eat cake myth! I don't use instagram partly because of this - I get serious FOMO and just find it unsettling to my inner peace. I've never used it because of this actually. I'm also really selective about my RUclips subscriptions for the same reason. I follow you and 3 other youtubers because from the videos I have watched they are all very real about what they review, use, and suggest.
I follow the crafting industry, cards and scrapbooking mainly and I don't really get any of that stuff. I wonder why it's in the planner community so much. As someone who is also sickly I hope your health improves , sending you good thoughts.
It helped me to do a major clean up of who I followed. I also started engaging with more real ppl more. It helped!
DANNNNNGGGGG CINDY! Why you gotta’ ask good questions that require answers?! 😂
I look at Instagram like a mall. I go there to see what everyone is “selling” whether it’s food, clothes, jewelry, inspiration (that’s a product nowadays), planner stuff, etc.... I also sell stuff on there.
I was just telling my cousin that when I say I need to “unplug” from social media, it only pertains to Facebook because that’s the REAL social media. Twitter would probably annoy me too, but I just feel like that’s a platform for rich people 🤷🏽♀️ If anything good happens on Twitter, it’ll be on Reddit anyway!
Ok, that was a tangent but, yeah...everything you said was spot on. You have to be the smartest and most controlled shopper you’ve ever been in 2020, otherwise you’ll be in debt. Period!
I’ve completely quit Instagram a few times throughout its existence. The first time it was because I realized I was becoming obsessed over the appearance of my posts on Instagram and their responses. I hated traveling and having part of my brain focused on posting my pictures on Instagram, so I permanently deleted that account. a few years later I started a new account and severely limited my followers to close friends that I actually engage with. But the second time I deleted it was the consumerism!! I was obsessed with clothes and constantly thinking about buying things like that, I so I deleted it and left it alone for a year, recently I downloaded it again, and I’m currently grappling with whether or not I should let it go again. I started getting NOTIFICATIONS about things I should buy and that is disgusting, I really don’t need constant reminders to shop.
Great review of the state of social media. I also understand some of it may be due to people needing to supplement their income, but at the expense if those who they are trying to influence. I hope you can enjoy some mashed potatoes and gravy.
It’s the same way in the makeup community, too. And the high school bitchiness bs is also a big part of it. The drama and in-fighting is unreal. I can’t even try to watch those videos anymore except for one person. I totally get what you’re saying. Stay away from anything stressful. I have 4 autoimmune diseases and one really impacts my kidneys. I almost died about a year ago, so I have a sense of what your life is like on the days (that turn into months) where my kidneys don’t want to function. It’s indescribable. Stress just makes it worse. You can’t avoid stress because, you know, your life; but you can avoid unnecessary stress and it looks like you’ve clearly identified what a source of that unnecessary stress is. Run, girl! Love your channel and your honesty. I love how you keep it real. Thank you for that.💗
I have had end stage renal disease for 30 years (I’m 35). I did dialysis for 10 years until my third kidney transplant last year . It super sucks and most days all I wanted to do was sleep. If you ever need someone to talk to I am here.
Also, social media overall has been shitty lately. I’ve been avoiding them lately and opting to get back into reading books and listening to history podcasts.
Haven’t even watched yet but I also am kind of quitting instagram. It feels like small artists are doomed to fail and I might just use my account as a gallery view of the things I make rather than trying to find new followers
This was really timely and interesting. I noticed this week that someone was posting about the Nordstrom sale and listed everything she was buying with pictures and links. I thought that was really wierd, but hey, I'm in the UK so what do I know about shopping culture in the USA? However, it was when all of the EC Hello Kitty stuff started flooding my feed that I went 'Whoa!" It was rather relentless, and it is everywhere, in storied, in videos, on the grid - everywhere, with everyone telling you to use their link in the bio to shop. I have noticed that there is no criticism of the products - it's just glowing reviews about how amazing it is. And you're right - do we need this stuff? No. And I have a very very hard time beleiving that those who are promoting this stuff actually *need* it. I also find it massively interesting that those who are promoting this latest EC launch are those 'influencers' who stopped posting about EC for all of 3 seconds back in June, and then immediately jumped on the bandwagon again and gleefully grabbed the free products which were sent to them. Kind of nauseating, actually. Instagram seems to be full of people trying to sell you stuff, athough it is rather wonderful to find those gems of accounts with wonderful, inspiring, non-consumerist content. Well said, Cindy. PS We still want you on Instagram - don't disappear, as there is a wealth of goodness you can offer up for us which we will enjoy.
I've been unfollowing a lot of people and following new, much smaller accounts, people who don't get paid/get some sort of kickback to promote products. Even then, it feels like those who are "smaller" are all promoting products for free in the hopes of one day making money on posts. It bums me out and the consumerism of the planning hobby has always bothered me. All I can do is buy what I actually use intentionally and take a break from posting on IG while I try to figure out what I can post about that isn't just "look at this stuff I bought." I want to be more creative than that.
I agree and have stopped some people on Instagram and RUclips who plug sells so much. Telling you they buy this cheap home stuff you don't need and no sign of it there backgrounds when filming. People are really struggling at the moment. Thank you for your honesty. X
I am very wary of planner accounts whose planners are suspiciously unused. They constantly post their newest and latest, flipping through pages and inserts and sections and accessories that are ... empty?! And they breezily say that they haven't gotten around to filling it out yet, blah blah. Then what/why are you showing? I much prefer the planner/journal people who share what they use and you can tell that it's truly loved. You can see why XYZ is working for them!
Thank you for highlighting the weirdness of pushing people to shop in-store during a pandemic. I found some pretty great stuff on clearance at a certain store right before quarantine and have been waiting months (and counting) to post a video about it because I don't want to encourage anyone to make an unnecessary trip. Someday, I'll feel okay about posting such things. Not yet. Be well. 🌿
I totally agree with you!! I rarely go on IG...I don’t think I’ve ever posted on there...lol 😂
Some days I don’t even go on FB!!
I have noticed on RUclips so many videos are doing a lot of sponsored & affiliated material & makes me wonder if the person really likes the product or just trying to “sell” you the item or items...to me it seems like their doing it a lot more...maybe I’m wrong?? Just feels like it...
I know Cindy you are being honest about products...just makes a person wonder!! Lately, I’ve been thinking about all the crap I’ve bought...and the stuff I use or don’t use...
Loved the video! Keep doing you!