The consumer to creator pipeline

I avoided downloading TikTok for years before I finally caved and created an account. Not because I didn't have an interest in watching an endless stream of videos on my phone during my lunch break, but because I know something about myself that not everyone knows.

The thing is, there are different types of people on the social internet: those who consume, and those who create. Marketing experts will tell you there are more types than this, but let's focus on these two for now.

There are people online who, for the most part, do not create content. They may participate in social media in practice, but they do not consider themselves content creators. They are consumers of content, and they are -- quite literally -- content in doing so.

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I am not solely a content consumer. I have tried to be. In fact, when I first downloaded TikTok and started training my algorithm to not show me sad animal videos (no thank you), I made a promise to myself.

I said I would never make TikTok videos of my own. And I was wrong.

I held out for maybe a month at most. I took time to see what was out there, what these videos were like. Who was making them, and how, and why. And I just could not help it. Once I began to understand the supposed formula, I wanted to try it out for myself. Not because I particularly wanted to grow an account on TikTok, but instead because I love creating content. It is what I do for a living. It is my spark. It fills me with joy, and a sense of purpose.

And I have been making videos ever since. I don't have many followers, but that's not the point. The point is that I will never be able to remain a consumer of content I like. I enjoy making it too much. It is possibly a curse, but most definitely a blessing. If it makes you feel alive, do the thing.