The problem with the social media novel (or fiction more generally) for me is mostly that they fool themselves into thinking a narrow slice of internet existence can stand in for the whole: namely that *most* social media users are vast, high-follower accounts whose every move is adored or picked over, prone to cancellation.
Example throwaway comments:
* The part in Beautiful World, Where Are You? where one of the characters looks up an ex on IG and finds his post has 175 likes ... a very improbable figure for a modestly popular account.
* Cynthia Nixon's worry that her racism in class (in the SATC reboot) will turn her viral.
* THE BATMAN's villainous Twitch streamer having (in hushed tones) 500 followers.
The insinuation is that the social media world is more dangerous than it is; more pliable for success; more active. But in fact the vast majority of social media users are reclining and just watching the world pass by. Few are social media protagonists.
Ha! I came here to write a comment to the effect of "I like internet novels that give the appropriate sense of danger to the subject." You're definitely right that most users are just voyeurs, but I think many think of themselves as protagonists, with the potential to go #viral or be #cancelled--however slim the chances of that actually are. But you're right that usually too much is written about being watched and not all the watching that goes on.
imo, Gossip Girl is low key one of the best internet novel bc the seamlessness of the "real," the digital, and the fake. You're right Steph that there isn't really a devision anymore. I'm most addicted to the internet (and my phone) when I feel like I'm watching a story unfold in real time. All the Caroline Calloway drama, the recent nonsense over the woke Lockheed Martin employee, watching my peers get anonymously bullied on YikYak in college... the best internet novels (to me) are able to replicate that feeling. I always hesitate to recommend "The Sluts" by Dennis Cooper bc it's a pretty rough read, but it's definitely not like anything else I've read and I do think it gets the internet the most "right," but in a very warped way. It's not about the masochism of social media like the books you've described Steph, but more about the depravity of the anonymous hive mind.
I've actually never read Fake Accounts, and I only made it about 30 pages into the Lockwood before I gave up (lol) but I'm definitely more curious to read them now.
Very much agree that many users think of themselves as protagonists, and instagram etc. profits off that delusion/desperation/aspiration. Watching or taking part of those real time events (every single one of those hits home!!!) seems to sometimes contribute to that too? Maybe the feeling of relevance or presence?
GG is perfect, thank you so much for mentioning that lol I need to re-read them and update this + I’m curious about The Sluts! What a title
Yes! I think about this all the time in regards to what social media companies seem to think the average user wants when they make changes to their platforms -- it’s definitely tailored to influencers or people who want to be influencers, when in actuality we’re mostly just here to keep up with friends or scroll absentmindedly. I feel like it sometimes creates a protagonist mindset where it shouldn’t too.
Right -- this is how Zuckerberg keeps on ruining social media networks. They keep on pushing more interaction, no matter how inane, when as you say people just want to browse.
The problem with the social media novel (or fiction more generally) for me is mostly that they fool themselves into thinking a narrow slice of internet existence can stand in for the whole: namely that *most* social media users are vast, high-follower accounts whose every move is adored or picked over, prone to cancellation.
Example throwaway comments:
* The part in Beautiful World, Where Are You? where one of the characters looks up an ex on IG and finds his post has 175 likes ... a very improbable figure for a modestly popular account.
* Cynthia Nixon's worry that her racism in class (in the SATC reboot) will turn her viral.
* THE BATMAN's villainous Twitch streamer having (in hushed tones) 500 followers.
The insinuation is that the social media world is more dangerous than it is; more pliable for success; more active. But in fact the vast majority of social media users are reclining and just watching the world pass by. Few are social media protagonists.
Ha! I came here to write a comment to the effect of "I like internet novels that give the appropriate sense of danger to the subject." You're definitely right that most users are just voyeurs, but I think many think of themselves as protagonists, with the potential to go #viral or be #cancelled--however slim the chances of that actually are. But you're right that usually too much is written about being watched and not all the watching that goes on.
imo, Gossip Girl is low key one of the best internet novel bc the seamlessness of the "real," the digital, and the fake. You're right Steph that there isn't really a devision anymore. I'm most addicted to the internet (and my phone) when I feel like I'm watching a story unfold in real time. All the Caroline Calloway drama, the recent nonsense over the woke Lockheed Martin employee, watching my peers get anonymously bullied on YikYak in college... the best internet novels (to me) are able to replicate that feeling. I always hesitate to recommend "The Sluts" by Dennis Cooper bc it's a pretty rough read, but it's definitely not like anything else I've read and I do think it gets the internet the most "right," but in a very warped way. It's not about the masochism of social media like the books you've described Steph, but more about the depravity of the anonymous hive mind.
I've actually never read Fake Accounts, and I only made it about 30 pages into the Lockwood before I gave up (lol) but I'm definitely more curious to read them now.
Very much agree that many users think of themselves as protagonists, and instagram etc. profits off that delusion/desperation/aspiration. Watching or taking part of those real time events (every single one of those hits home!!!) seems to sometimes contribute to that too? Maybe the feeling of relevance or presence?
GG is perfect, thank you so much for mentioning that lol I need to re-read them and update this + I’m curious about The Sluts! What a title
Yes! I think about this all the time in regards to what social media companies seem to think the average user wants when they make changes to their platforms -- it’s definitely tailored to influencers or people who want to be influencers, when in actuality we’re mostly just here to keep up with friends or scroll absentmindedly. I feel like it sometimes creates a protagonist mindset where it shouldn’t too.
Right -- this is how Zuckerberg keeps on ruining social media networks. They keep on pushing more interaction, no matter how inane, when as you say people just want to browse.