"I Hate The Internet", an open letter by Sam Sky
I’m sure you can tell by the blunt title and scathing sarcastic lyrics, when I wrote “I H8 The Internet,” I was ready to rage quit the internet and music for that matter, flipping the proverbial table. I’m willing to bet that you’ve been there too. Whether it was you getting frustrated by comparing yourself with someone else’s picture perfect life on Instagram, your song or art seemingly not getting the attention or traction you know it deserves, or the classic (pointless) internet debate with that person you don’t know – You know, the one who has a cartoon character as there profile picture that made you so infuriated it ruined your night? Yeah, that’s EXACTLY how I felt when I wrote this song. Now that we’re all on the same page emotionally, let’s take an un expected turn.
I could sit here bitching and moaning – no doubt. Between the song title, the algorithms censoring and ruling over the internet with an iron fist deciding who sees my posts or hears my music, to watching my daughter use her beautiful imagination to pretend she’s on a tablet instead of fighting a dragon, I could probably go on and on. Plot twist, I’m NOT going to. Don’t get me wrong, the song I wrote is fun, truthful, and therapeutic for me even now. However, seeing as the world wide web isn’t going away anytime soon, and more importantly, I can’t fathom not doing curbside grocery pick up at this point in my life, I think there is far more value in discussing how to move forward with a positive relationship with the internet, and more specifically, social media.
If your interaction with social media is for validation via quantifiable things like subscribers, likes, followers, etc, you will ALWAYS FEEL LIKE SHIT. In the spirit of transparency and being vulnerable, I was for sure a legit validation junkie at one point, and truthfully still struggle with it. It’s like a drug. Literally. The science is beyond out on that one people; And just like any drug, you’ll keep chasing the dragon, coming back for more, leaving empty every time. This behavior or thought process is what I call short sighted self-interest. It’s all me me me me, want want want, and take take take.
The yin to that yang, the thing that has begun healing my relationship with social media is by making it about OTHER PEOPLE. Crazy right? Dale Carnegie, expert in the psychology of communication, talked about the life changing impact that comes with being genuinely (key word, genuinely) interested in other people. All of the sudden, now not only does your relationship with social media become about meaningful and purposeful interactions, but when you show your interest in others, miraculously, THEY BECOME MORE INTERESTED IN YOU, or in modern vernacular, YOUR CONTENT AND BRAND. This is what’s called thinking in rational self-interest.
If you get one thing from this piece, I hope it’s that concept. You’ll go from looking for likes, to looking to ask or compliment someone about their art, music, and thoughts. Keep doing this, and all of the sudden that shitty internet feeling starts to fade a bit, while you’re building your brand and influence in a genuine way. Who knows, it may even keep you from writing an over the top pop song about how much you hate it.
- Sam
Stream “I H8 The Internet” here