This Video Essay Nails Why Social Media Pressure Is Killing Hobbies and Creative Joy
A thoughtful new video essay digs into an issue a lot of creatives and hobbyists quietly struggle with: how social media pressure can drain the fun out of the things we love.
Video essayist Alastair, turns his focus toward hobbies that are supposed to be relaxing and personal, but end up feeling like unpaid labor once an audience is involved.
He points out how quickly the joy disappears when sharing becomes the main goal, explaining, “The act of documenting the hobby becomes more important than actually enjoying the hobby.”
The video argues that this shift changes the entire relationship we have with creative hobbies, especially online. Instead of experimenting, failing, and learning at a natural pace, people feel rushed to produce something polished and presentable right away.
That pressure leaves no room to mess up, grow, or simply enjoy the process. As Alastair puts it, “We’ve taken everything that used to be just for fun and turned it into another form of work.
“We’ve lost the ability to do something just because it feels good to do it. Everything has to have a trajectory, a purpose beyond just existing. And honestly, it’s killing the joy out of everything.”
It’s a relatable take that cuts right to the heart of how social media can reshape even our most personal passions.