Pokimane, a prominent Twitch star, has openly expressed feeling "guilty" about her role as an influencer, citing a misalignment between her values and the negative impact of social media on its users. Imane Anys aka Pokimane holds an impressive following on Twitch, where she stands as one of the platform's most-followed streamers and the leading female broadcaster overall.
Furthermore, Pokimane's online presence extends beyond Twitch, as she boasts an enormous following on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, accumulating over 12 million followers combined. With her undeniable status as an internet icon, Pokimane recently disclosed that her career as an influencer had occasionally evoked negative feelings within her.
'Lowkey feel guilty being a content creator'
Pokimane took to Instagram Stories to share her thoughts and emotions regarding her profession on Sunday, May 29. In a heartfelt post, she expressed that the potentially harmful effects of social media sometimes led her to feel a sense of "guilt" about her role as a content creator and benefiting from the platform.
In her message, Pokimane acknowledged the addictive nature of social media and its potential impact on young minds. She reflected on how social media could shape her personality, life, opinions and desires, which occasionally prompted her to question her involvement in the digital realm. To cope with these feelings, she strived to be a positive influence on others and hoped to use social media as a tool to encourage self-care, spending time outdoors and establishing healthy boundaries with the various apps we engage with.
Pokimane concluded her statement by reminding her audience that the online world was fabricated, and often misleading. She urged them not to lose themselves by comparing themselves or self-doubt, and emphasized on the importance of staying grounded in reality.
Pokimane wrote, "Every now & then i become really reflective (and lowkey feel guilty) being a content creator / profiting from social media because it's so addicting and can be so harmful, especially to young minds. i especially find myself feeling this way when i realize how much SM impacts my personality, life, opinions, desires."
"i cope by trying to be a positive influence on others, or hope that i can also use social media as a tool to encourage people to take care of themselves / spend time outdoors / create healthy boundaries with all the apps we use," she contined, adding, "Friendly reminder that this digital space is just that it's virtual, made up, "fake", so don't lose yourself in it & don't compare yourself to it."
How is Pokimane creating 'healthy boundaries' with social media?
Pokimane has been increasingly vocal about her sentiments toward her career. She recently took a step back from her role as a member of OfflineTV, and in 2022, she made a significant shift in her content creation approach, transitioning from daily streams to focusing on producing vlogs and TikTok videos.
It appears that Pokimane was aligning her actions with her beliefs by actively establishing "healthy boundaries" with social media, a topic she addressed in a video posted in April. She highlighted the potential toxicity associated with apps, emphasizing how they could foster an unhealthy fixation on appearance for regular users. By voicing these concerns, Pokimane showcased her commitment to raising awareness about the negative aspects of social media and strived for people to create a healthier relationship with it.
