
Actual Rebellion, Social Media, and Returning to Punk Rock Roots.
Jan 22
4 min read
1
3
0
So here we are again. It's only day 2 of the next 4 years, and things are already falling to shit.
It's time to figure out how to navigate this without losing our minds.
Just two days into the new administration, TikTok went offline "forever" and then came back—with a universal "thank you" to the person who initially pushed to remove it. No, thank you. In that short time, while Free Speech was supposedly being "restored" in America, every hashtag not aligning with the new presidential agenda was flagged and blocked. When the hashtag "democracy" is immediately flagged and blocked for violating community guidelines, in America, we've clearly messed up as a society.
With all four major social media platforms being absolutely politically corrupt (Twitter, FB, Insta, TikTok), I'm stepping away from them once more. None of them represent Freedom of Speech, and to think so is crazy. Let's not even kid ourselves about the shithole called Social Truth...I was banned forever within one single day for violations a few years ago when I checked out just how free it was...
If you've been with me for a while, you might remember my huge meltdown during the COVID times. Anyway, I went off all social media for about a year to literally save myself.
Honestly, I wish I had never returned to it.
The dilemma is: how to run a small business without social media in a social media-dominated world?
I genuinely believe the solution is to grow the business right here, on my own platform. Grow TF out of this website. The issue I am having is I've been moving towards growing my business online rather than in-person over the last 6 months. Leaving social media is complicating how to do that.
How do I grow an online coaching business without using social media for marketing?
Possible ONLINE Solutions:
YouTube: Although I really dislike this idea, it might be necessary. I believe YouTube is a form of social media, but at least it has its own search engine. I hate this idea.
Pinterest: If anyone actually knows how to use this for business, reach out lol it's still a mystery to me. It also has its own search engine. I also think this is a waste of time.
Google Ads: I will definitely be doing this.
Coaching App: I'll be switching to a much simpler app for my online coaching clients. Workouts will be printable... because we're going punk AF from here on out lol
Possible Solutions NOT Online:
Zines: Oh yes, we're bringing back handmade zines. Handcrafted, grassroots, and gritty AF.
Printed Materials: Yes, good old-fashioned printed items on real paper. If you know a good printer, let me know.
Magazine: If I can figure out how to make this happen, I will.
A Book: Why not? A Fit AF Manifesto? Yes please.
Printable Products: This will actually be a core part of what's to come. Digital downloads, PDFs, etc. Things you can actually print out and work on for the entire 4-8 week program. Challenges to print out. Guides and lists to print out and actually use. Usable shit.
Punk Rock Roots are Rebellious AF
If you were a punk rocker in the 80's (yes, as in the 1980s) you were part of a culture that created itself. The music was all self produced. It was almost ALL about political injustices of the time. The music was our actual rebellion, not so much the way we dressed, but that too. If you wanted to do something, you learned how to fucking do it. Band t shirts were handmade with handmade silkscreens in the garage or kitchen, zines were literally handmade with typewriters, markers, and magazine cutouts, glued together and then photocopied at the library. If you wanted to make a record you literally learned how to do it yourself. We painted our own basement walls black, hung curtains, and made our own darkrooms to develop our own film...
We did not wait for things to be created for us.
We fucking made shit happen.
I think it's time for a real punk rock revolution.
MOVING FORWARD
Yesterday I spent a few hours of my day creating something of value, that proudly posted it on my Insta only to have three people see it (and one singular person like it 😜).
This is not how I want to live my life.
It's a complete waste of my time.
Tonight I deleted the two apps (instagram and TikTok) off my phone.
At the end of the day, I'm a grown ass woman, and I believe I shouldn't be constantly censored for speaking my truth. If I can't say Hi FUCKERS or Hey BITCHES on social, but one of the newly appointed leaders of our nation (and ironically the owner of X) can give 2 full blatant nazi salutes on day one... and that is somehow perfectly ok to do...
I am bowing the fuck out and not playing along anymore.
✌🏻 Deborah