Content Inundation 101: Navigating Digital Media
VALENTINO AD IN NYC / IMAGE COURTESY @THEKRPROJECT
When I moved to Manhattan this summer, I knew I was taking the plunge into a fast-paced world of style, creativity, and $8 lattes. However, a phenomenon I do not think I could’ve been prepared for is just how fast content moves through the screens and minds of this city’s residents. Further, the feeling of being behind in the cultural conversation when you haven’t checked your social feeds in the last two hours.
There is no question of the importance of digital media in today’s world. We are living in a more globally connected society than ever, a direct correlation to the most abundant accessibility to media outlets than ever. If something breaking happens across the world, the entire island of Manhattan will have the nitty-gritty details of the event within the hour. Anyone can post, share, send, and contribute to conversations of all kinds, at any time, from anywhere.
While this is excellent for so many reasons, the inundation of content for any subscriber can be overwhelming at times. I have found myself at the end of a long day, sitting down to stream whatever mindless-comfort-sitcom-of-choice for the evening to relax, then wondering if I should switch over to the “New Releases” section just to make sure I haven’t missed anything pressing since last night. Or picking up the book off my bedside table, just to put it back down when I realize I haven’t checked the “Fashion News” section of my favorite publications today. Don’t even get me started on trying to keep up with actual friends’ lives via what feels like 10+ relevant social media platforms.
While these may seem like trivial issues, they can be taxing when you feel like you’re running this never-ending race to keep up with the culture. The pressure to be knowledgeable about, as Bo Burnham would put it, “a little bit of everything, all of the time” is real and present. Especially for those of us young professionals trying to make a space for ourselves amongst all these voices.
When it comes to the fashion industry, digital media is a guiding force in what is relevant and trending. Fashion has always been a consumer driven industry, but, now more than ever, consumers are in the driver’s seat when it comes to the next Big Thing. And you guessed it—it’s all because of digital and social media. YouTube, Instagram, and especially TikTok has proven the ease to go viral and influence others on a massive scale, in turn influencing a multitude of fashion brands’ new collections and product launches. So, while keeping up with fashion industry news, we must also keep up with the growing presence of influencers and trends coming from grassroots movements of smaller creators because of their direct impact on the industry. All in a day’s work to stay relevant!
With all these factors in mind, how do we prioritize what content we digest? And how do we manage to keep up in the digital space? For my own sanity, I have chosen a few online & print publications to follow, while doing my best to diversify the social content I consume. I also think it’s important to remind yourself that it is simply impossible to truly stay up to date on everything, so choose the areas you value, and don’t forget to prioritize what you enjoy. Because after all, what’s the point of contributing to the conversation if you aren’t genuinely invested in the outcome of the content being presented?
New York City is just about as fast paced as it gets- or so I thought. As it turns out, the digital world of fashion, culture, and lifestyle gives the city a run for its money. Cheers to all of you running this content race with me!
xo
KR
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@KAITLYNSRUTLEDGE + @THEKRPROJECT
