Social Media and Content Creation with Mikee Quintos

Being genuine is such a big thing for me, hence the title Sincerely. So channel go sincerely Mikey because I’m just like you guys. I’m also struggling with this too, but I’m fighting it. I still try to post things for you guys because I want to reach out to those people who need it. This is the Rewind with Joy Spring, a Spotify original podcast. Join us as we recap 2022 and look back at all the notable events, discoveries, and moments that made this year unforgettable, one episode at a time. In an estimate for 2022, about 76.01 million Filipinos are social media users, with the highest percentage belonging to ages 25 to 34, accounting for 16.4 percent of our total population of about 111.8 million. Social media users aged 16 to 64 spend about six hours and fifty-eight minutes, nearly seven hours, using the internet or their devices daily. What could you have accomplished in those seven hours? For me, I try to set screen time limits, but I always end up extending it, saying just fifteen more minutes. It could be argued that social media is a way to relax and connect with people you love, but there are many other things you could accomplish outside of it. The social media landscape is constantly shifting as new technologies emerge and interests change depending on content, personal views, and the socio-political climate, with recent buzz coming from platforms like Twitter. With these changes, let’s dive into social media this year and how it may look in the future. My guest today is someone I’ve been excited to sit down with. She’s an actress, singer, model, YouTuber, and one of the most followed celebrities on social media. She shared that she started her YouTube channel in high school, initially posting singing videos, and one of her early videos unexpectedly gained thousands of views. Since then, her journey has been on and off, especially due to burnout and pressure. She emphasized that consistency is important but also acknowledged how hard it can be, especially when gaps in posting make her feel guilty toward her audience. Over time, she learned to remove pressure and create content with love instead of obligation. Messages from followers who say her content helped them made her realize she was doing something right. She now focuses on influencing self-improvement and being genuine rather than chasing numbers. She explained that followers and likes don’t define success; purpose does. Social media should be used intentionally, asking why you post and what impact you want to leave on people’s lives. She talked about the responsibility content creators carry, especially with large audiences, and discussed the pros and cons of influential figures like the Kardashians, acknowledging both empowerment and the unrealistic standards that can lead to body dysmorphia among young people. Ultimately, responsibility also lies with viewers to curate what they consume and protect their mental health. She shared that she unfollowed accounts that no longer aligned with her values and now prioritizes authenticity, self-awareness, and wholesome content. Social media affects how we perceive ourselves, our bodies, and our worth, which is why grounding yourself outside of it is crucial. Many people use social media as a side hustle, but her advice for those wanting to grow is to create content based on genuine interests, not trends or pressure. Start by asking yourself what you love doing, what makes you happy, and whether you’re being honest with your answers. She admitted that trying too hard to please others during a relaunch caused anxiety, but stepping back and returning to content she genuinely enjoyed helped her reconnect with herself and her audience. People today resonate more with raw, human content than perfection. She emphasized the importance of real-life relationships, having people you can cry with, and allowing yourself to feel emotions as a form of strength. Social media can be a beautiful place but also a vicious one if you’re not grounded in who you are outside of it. The episode ended with reflections on social media statistics in the Philippines, quick-fire questions, and her plans to create more lifestyle content, sharing not just highlights but also struggles. Her final message was simple: don’t try to be anyone else. Your strength as a content creator is that you are you. Being genuine is your niche. Sincerely.