8 Reasons Substack Is Better Than Traditional Social Media Platforms

If there is even such a thing as social media?

Photo by Magnet.me on Unsplash

Traditional platforms

If we are to think of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and social media of that ilk, we all started on those platforms seeking one thing. Connection. Whether connection with family, friends, clients, potential clients, celebrities we admire, celebrities we hate … it all boils down to connection.

But that way of connecting with people soon turns sour. From doctored images leading to people developing eating disorders and altering their natural beauty to faces unrecognisable, to trolls and bullies leaving mental scars. Social media quickly becomes antisocial media.

Not so with Substack, at least from what I have found so far.

Maybe it’s because instead of consuming meme after meme, and post after post of ill thought out and angry content, coming at us in rapid fire, over here it's a different model.

Here, people slow down. They write long form, which means thinking about a topic long enough to have enough words to create an article. Sure, we have notes, but they seem to take their lead from the longform, calm mentality.

Of course, if some odd person wants to go and find an angry rant here, they can do so. There are of course, some newsletters written by the kind of people I want to avoid. But they are the exception and not the norm. The kind of people who like to consume the kind of content that Substackers seem to enjoy writing, are simply not the angry, nasty type.

Substack works on a subscription model, not an algorithm per se, so you are shown the content you want to see, instead of the content Substack wants to ram down your throat. This model also means there is no need for advert after advert either. Your favourite writers might include CTAs or links to their produce, but that is OK as you already decided you like them. You can also unsubscribe should you decide you do not.

Try getting rid of bloody Temu and their constant adverts selling cheap rubbish that you don't want, it's impossible.

What I do find here is:

• Lots of subtle humour, rather than in your face images meant to shock.

• Funny, sad, dramatic or inspirational stories from people who feel like old friends.

• Tales from kindred spirits.

• A sense of belonging, regardless of background - wealthy and less affluent people, people of all races, sexualities, genders, religions, abilities, come together with a love of writing and reading, without having to show every aspect of their existence outside of what they write about to be judged by baying crowds.

• A platform that allows you, even helps you, to have your say, and sprinkles in images, notes, audio, podcast abilities, community chats and more.

• Somewhere your business can blossom.

• Advice on improving your writing.

• People who make me feel safe.

In my other life, as a dog behaviourist, the sheer toxicity that goes on, on traditional social media, often leaves me wondering why I became a dog pro in the first place.

You would think that those who work with animals all had high ethics and were kind to all … in reality, it can be really difficult when people have so many different views on the rights and wrongs of animal care. Here, I can read about dogs, by other dog pros and dogparents, without constantly fighting the urge to quit in tears.

If I don't like someone's approach, I can unsubscribe without them popping up as a reel, or a story, or any of the other shower of content diarrhoea that traditional platforms throw over us.

If someone is horrible to me, which has never happened here, I can simply remove them. And then they would be gone. No dramas.

I love it here, across all three of my newsletters. It feels different.

Gentle. Intelligent. Welcoming even.

Here we can relax, with a coffee, and put our feet up. Snuggle into a blanket and breath. Look for content with depth, learn, gather information, about things that actually interest us.

My Substack feed is like deep breathing for the soul.

Long may it continue.

Today's Sub Stats:

It's the 28th August 2024.

Up to 40 subscribers today. The paid one is still me, and even I don't pay myself.

But 40 subs when I'm aiming for 50 by the end of the year is fabulous! I am so grateful to you all.

The reason I post about it is that I am not a Substack superstar, or even a brilliant writer. I want to show other new writers what can realistically be achieved.

When anyone does anything new on a platform such as Substack, we immediately see the best sellers, those with thousands of subs, making a living from writing to their adoring fans.

It can be disheartening to realise after a few months that your growth probably will not mirror theirs.

This sharing might be an antidote to all those whose numbers are out of reach for mere mortals. I don't want mere mortals to feel discouraged, and so I grow organically, slowly, in public.

Warm ‘N’ Fuzzies,

Freya xx