The Echo Chamber Effect.

Creator: Tintoretto (c. 1518-1594 CE) | Credit: Didier Descouens

The sun hits just right. You practiced positive reframing, and now you’re walking on clouds.

This is madness. The dark skies are no more. The girl across the street smiles at you, receptive to your newfound aura. The vibe is less Slenderman and more Bruce Wayne.

Minus the orphanage and the midnight beatings.

Haaaa. Life is worth writing about, finally. Your kind-hearted nature shines. You want to write some more, and help, and bond!

Can you feel it? A breakthrough is near!

We’ve got to share the love. Social media, maybe?

You’ve come across some resources in the midst of climbing the magical beanstalk, and you want to empower other writers whose doomscrolling and constant grief appear quite relatable. You have to do something about it.

It’s called being a decent fucking human being. Common knowledge, you assume.

Right. So you share what you found. An amazing self-publishing guide for newcomers, mapping tools, Bible story templates, advice on drafting, branding, SEO…

Let’s do this.

Post. Click.

You can’t wait!!! You want people to feel the way you feel right now—hopeful and full of energy.

Nothing can stop you. You’re fucking unbreakable.

Lead them to battle!!!!!! For the spear slashes the demons, the dark thoughts.

A notification appears on your iPhone. It’s in mint condition. It has a nice silicone case, matching your brand new overcoat, thick wool with camel undertones, and your tortoise Versace Medusa shades. You got a bonus at work. Splurged on some high fashion, for once.

You click on this notification. It’s Instagram.

You approach the comments on your reel, big smile on your radiant face.

It’s the anticipation.

Until.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Shameless self-promotion!”

You’re not selling or promoting anything.

“Another pretentious cuck who thinks he knows it all!”

You just wanted to share your findings.

“Yeah, this mf is a narcissist!”

Wow. Nice blanket statement.

You cross-posted to another social network. Reddit. Yay.

Until.

“Read the rules! No self-promotion!”

You’re not selling or promoting anything.

“You should never pick up a pen again!”

Your resources were useful (or so you thought), and many people reached out to thank you.

“DOWNVOTE.” They’re drooling like the cartoonish zombies in your niece’s favorite game. Almost feral.

This is the echo chamber effect. A house of cards.

One ill-advised troll enters the space. Other users flood the breach to project their insecurities on you, feeling stronger as their numbers grow.

It’s the pitchforks, the witch hunt, the overzealous priests shouting, “BURN!”

The downvotes, the ugly comments… All stemming from one inciting incident.

Strange, right? Aren’t you supposed to stand against harmful trends and behaviors?

Not anymore. It’s social media, bitches! We can do whatever the fuck we want, behind the (relative) anonymity of our screens. Who cares about the consequences?

“Just grow some thick skin, BITCH.”

Yeah, it’s sad, I know. But it’s our reality since Facebook blew up in ’08 and shaped the landscape for our current platforms. New behaviors were suggested, coerced into action by algorithms and verbiage like “Influencers,” “Follow,” “Trends.”

Almost like hypnotic triggers. The addicts traded in their critical thinking skills to find a place where spewing hatred is rewarded with validation of their confirmation bias.

Haaaa. Social media. What a terrible idea. Great intentions at its inception but carried out so poorly.

Remember, though, reframing is key. Your time and energy could be spent on more traditional routes, in-person events, and curated circles where certain things are less socially acceptable.

These villagers who want to see you burn don’t have much intellectual baggage. They buy (in) what the others buy (in). They dress alike, talk alike, behave all the same. It’s their warped concept of community.

But their strength in numbers will never offset their fatal flaws: they can’t measure up to your integrity, your joy, your energy, your positivity, your kindness, your CRITICAL THINKING skills.

They’re trivial. They don’t pay your bills. They can’t really affect your career, as most of your readership is not found in those places full of hatred and skewed perspectives.

For a fleeting instant, you made yourself believe that you needed their validation. But now, you realize: you don’t walk the same Earth.

Love yourself. Champion your works. Promote in a joyful noise. Invest in the people who refuse to step into this echo chamber. The ones fighting the mob with you.

Laugh it off. You’re gifted. You have a catalog. Elevate above the pits of snakes who are slaves to their own boundaries.

Keep on writing. You’re doing amazing.