Viva La Anti-Cringe: A Social Media Rebellion for Entrepreneurs

I spent an afternoon with a friend who’s aiming to be the next big influencer — and I was exhausted just watching her. Every like, comment, and view gave her this dopamine rush. She couldn’t finish her lunch without staging it, filtering it, and posting it with just the right hashtags. I was halfway through my bagel while she was still finding the perfect angle for her OOTD.

That’s when it hit me: we’re living in a digital world where clout is currency. And while I’m not trying to become a viral sensation for my food choice, as a marketing consultant, I can’t totally ignore the platforms where my audience is spending hours each day. So no, we’re not unplugging — but we are rebelling.

Because social media doesn’t have to be shallow, spammy, or soul-draining. Not if we take the reins.

Let’s play a quick round of “Annoying or Amazing?” We’ll call out a few social media trends, and you decide — eye roll or applause?

• 💅 Perfectly curated morning routines with 27 steps — Annoying or Amazing?
• 🔥 The “Here’s a pic of me in a suspiciously low-cut outfit…” with a deep caption about mindset. — Annoying or Amazing?
• 🧠 That one carousel that taught you something useful — Annoying or Amazing?