By David Graham: 8-30-2024
I think it goes without saying, we're beyond the social media takeover... and there's really no going back. I have it, I use it. At this stage the majority of us are signed up users and active on at least one of the major formats.
While I have enjoyed the streamlined communication and networking aspect of social media for the better part of the last two-decades, i've become increasingly bothered by the impact these platforms have made on the more meaningful experience of fishing. The massive expansion of social media has created more anglers than ever before... but seems still yet to threaten the growth of independence and personal development necessary to create genuinely passionate anglers.
I would preface this article in saying I am not, and do not speak in absolutes. This is a thought piece that certainly doesn't apply to everyone.
How social media has threatened the angling experience and how to overcome it…
An angler's experience in fishing is ultimately reflective of their values... what is most important to you? Social media has given a platform for people to broadcast those values to the masses. There needs to be a distinction though in these platforms between inspiration and imitation.
Obsessive copying of others - As an angler you can be lead to a destination or a pursuit because of the beauty someone else has captured there in a post... but we need to be certain we're not trying to recreate someone else's outcome. It cannot be done, and that person's 'moment' didn't find its value in the quickness of a camera shutter.... these are moments built upon by a lifetime pursuing a passion in line with individual values. Be compelled by someone else's journey, but be sure to create your own.
Becoming too focused on getting affirmations - While it feels good to inspire others or share a moment that was meaningful to us, this can quickly devolve into cheap dopamine hits. An inspiring post should be shared, and sourced for people's enjoyment... but when the affirmation becomes the purpose or some form of social credit it can begin to dilute the purpose of the experience in the first place. Once we allow prospective affirmations (likes, clicks, shares, metrics) to dictate what our next move is, we're either moving away from our core values as anglers, or demonstrating that social media itself has shifted those values.
Being too focused on getting 'content' - So often now it seems like anglers will visit a destination, fishery or pursue a certain fish to get a pretty picture without investing time in any of the history or back story of the people, place, or thing we are chasing. All for a caption that neglects the culture of the surrounding location or the depth of what lead up to the moment. The need to get the shot, the clip, or the moment we can somehow socially benefit from adds an unnatural layer of stress to the experience. To become hyper focused on gaining content is to become oblivious to the subtleties that make the experience and passion authentic.
Expecting a return - Anglers using social media should guard their mind against the idea they deserve something in return. It's the fatal threat of imitation or comparison.... "why not me?" Keep in mind, in today's age people can be whatever they want to be, fabricate truths and do ANYTHING to a photo. While social media has created a unique opportunity for some people to benefit even financially... the reality is that this is becoming increasingly rare in a growing platform where many are frankly lying about deals, sponsorships, or monetary gains, etc. People are quite literally paying money to mislead and mischaracterize their name and status. In the pursuit of cheap affirmations, some who would proudly wear the label of 'influencer' leave a wake of young impressionable anglers behind them chasing a mirage towards dead ends and dissatisfaction. I applaud social media for leading more people outdoors and into fishing, but many of them seem to lack the deep rooted value system that makes the chase be passion driven rather than driven by status and returns.
Fishing for other people’s benefit - Photos and videos are a great way to capture memories... but on a scale, we have to make sure the value of the captured moment is self satisfying more than for the satisfaction of others. Angler's need to ensure they're not going out with the intent to capture a moment for someone ELSE'S satisfaction. At its most foundational level, fishing should be an experience that creates value for the individual angler - it should not be a vehicle used to satisfy the masses in hopes of some sort of return.
Using a phone and social media to overcome our shortcomings - Social media has allowed anglers with minimal experience to paint a misleading picture of their knowledge and expertise. It can easily be used to manipulate reality. We've gotten to a stage in fishing where many anglers aren't relying on intuition or self-navigation... Social media can be weaponized and leveraged to access easy information that used to take years to gather. We can bypass a hard growth progression that used to take a lifetime by simply using a hand held device to take information or fake the desired outcome. 'Spot burning' has become an epidemic whether intentional or not. Flashy photos are taken advantage of by crafty users with time and access to satellite images.. and the need to get affirmed often outweighs to the need to protect the sanctity of the location.
Allowing content to justify our experiences. - As they say, 'photos or it didn't happen'. The tragic reality of social media is the idea that we need some sort of proof to unlock the value of the experience. Memories aren't enough... the mark left on our conscience and soul should never be devalued by the mark of a little heart, like, or emoji. There are moments that happen on the water that no photo or video can ever justify or truly reflect, and we need to accept that rather than stressing ourselves out trying to fruitlessly represent it in a space where its magnitude is enjoyed from a tiny handheld screen.
Allow social media to be a stressor on the thing we love - Time spent on the water can be a meditative space, or place to grapple with one's own fortitude, but social media has allowed others in to that deeply personal space. Sharing a moment should not become a task or obligation... what caption will hit hardest? am I using the right colour pallette, have I made my 'Monday post'? Is MY experience making SOMEONE ELSE happy? Will I get atleast X, Y, or Z number of likes and/or comments? At the point these questions become concerns and they come at the cost of actually enjoying the experience we can fall into a dangerous hole. We need to diligently protect the core value of the experience from outside stressors, not welcome them in.
What has fishing become?
I sometimes wonder how much personal growth as an angler I have restricted with the use of social media, and how much of my growth has been directly influenced by it. It is a unique modern conundrum, a double edged sword. I am fortunate to have laid the groundworks for a passion in fishing pre-social media existing. Instagram, youtube, facebook etc occurred after fishing for me... but I fear for those who started fishing more recently, BECAUSE of social media. Would they continue to fish in its absence? I'm guilty of a lot of the things I listed above because I genuinely enjoy capturing the moments I have on the water and sharing them. Ultimately, the outdoors is still the great equalizer. Social media may influence people to go outdoors for one reason or another, but the outdoors WILL humble everyone eventually. Those who find an authentic passion driven path will last, and those who follow a cheap pursuit fueled by social media thrills will undoubtedly fade away.