How Posting at a Young Age Altered My Life

Social Clout: My Journey Through Virality and Its Impact

Going viral on social media can feel like stepping into a whirlwind, but the experience varies drastically depending on your audience. When a woman goes viral with male followers, it’s profoundly different from when women garner attention from other women. I’ve experienced both sides of this phenomenon, and the effects of going viral with a predominantly male audience have stayed with me for over five years. This is an aspect of social media rarely discussed openly—often viewed as a cautionary tale rather than a topic worth unpacking. The reality is that the influence men wield over women on social platforms is undeniably significant and, in many cases, detrimental.

The Beginning: Building a Platform with Women

My journey began in December 2020, when I started my TikTok account, posting relatable and lighthearted content. One of my early successes was a video documenting my curly hair routine using the "curly girl method." The comments were flooded with support from women who saw me as an influencer worth following. At just sixteen, I was thrilled by the engagement. Women were buying the products I used, and my follower count grew steadily.

As I gained confidence, I began reaching out to brands for PR collaborations, and my hair content opened doors I never imagined. By my senior year of high school, I had a small but engaged audience of around 20,000 followers, predominantly women. This was an exciting and optimistic chapter in my social media journey, where I felt valued and supported.

October 2021: The Turning Point

In October 2021, everything changed. During volleyball season, I posted a trendy slow-motion video of my teammates and me dancing in our uniforms. We were in spandex and jerseys, completely unaware of the storm we were about to ignite. The video gained 8 million views, nearly a million likes, and thousands of comments. My follower count exploded—100,000 on TikTok and 9,000 on Instagram.

At first, I was excited about the numbers and the opportunities they could bring. But as the days passed, I realized the attention wasn’t coming from a positive place. The video went viral because of how we looked in our uniforms, and suddenly, I was the subject of comments from grown men sexualizing my body. My geometry teacher—a 27-year-old man later arrested for sleeping with a student—commented on the video in class. My mom, a teacher, was approached by a student’s parent who criticized me for posting "inappropriate content" her son had seen.

The video was eventually taken down for "minor safety," but by then, the damage was done. I had unintentionally created a following dominated by men, and the content I had worked so hard on—my hair videos—no longer performed well. The algorithm now prioritized posts where my body was visible, and any attempt to return to my original style of content fell flat.

The Struggle with Male Audiences

The comments I received during this period were unrelenting. Men demanded specific types of content, threatening to unfollow if I didn’t comply. Videos where my body was visible performed well, while those showcasing my interests, like hair care or beauty routines, were ignored. At one point, I gave in to the pressure, chasing the viral high by posting content I knew would appeal to this audience. But it didn’t take long for me to feel trapped and disillusioned.

My platform, once a source of joy and creativity, now felt like a cage. Even when I tried to use my following strategically—pitching brands for collaborations and free products—the results were hollow. My male-dominated audience didn’t care about the products I promoted, and brands quickly noticed the disconnect.

Walking Away

By the time I graduated high school, I decided I’d had enough. I stopped posting on my main account and started a new one, where I could share content freely without worrying about male validation. Though this account only grew to 6,000 followers, the sense of freedom and authenticity was priceless.

However, the effects of my viral moment continue to follow me. Even now, as a Division 2 college volleyball player, I’ve discovered posts of myself circulating on Reddit and Twitter, taken from my social media without my knowledge. These accounts fetishize female athletes, and the comments are vile. Complaining about this would only lead to victim-blaming, with people claiming it’s my fault for posting in the first place. But why should I have to hide my body or avoid sharing moments I’m proud of, just because others choose to sexualize me?

Reflecting on the System

The reality is, men have created an online system that commodifies women, from OnlyFans to viral bikini photos. Yet, when women use this system to their advantage, they face backlash from both men and women. Unlike many, I respect women who take control of this dynamic and use it for their gain. If men are going to sexualize and exploit women online, why shouldn’t women profit from it? 

That said, I understand the exhaustion many women feel when they reach a point where they no longer want to be seen as objects of male desire. It’s a tough cycle to break. Even now, when I post pictures at the beach or in my volleyball uniform—moments of pride in the body I’ve worked hard for—they’re often reduced to something sexual by others.

Moving Forward

Three years after going viral, I’ve learned a lot about social media’s power dynamics. While I don’t necessarily regret my experiences, I wish I had understood the long-term impact of going viral with the wrong audience. I’ve come to terms with the fact that my old account will never be what I envisioned, but I’m proud of the lessons I’ve learned.

Today, I focus on authenticity, sharing content that reflects who I am, not what others expect. Though the scars of my viral moment remain, I’m reclaiming my narrative, one post at a time.