The Digital Age: Why is it so hard to make your mark?

A few taps on a smartphone, a few keystrokes, and voilà — you’ve just posted something for the entire world to see.

Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter (yes, I still call it that, sue me), and Medium have democratized content creation.

What was once reserved for professionals only, is now available to everybody.

We’re in an era where the tools to create and platforms to showcase our creations are easily accessible like never before.

Everyone can become a creator. And yet, paradoxically, it feels harder to leave a lasting impact. Why?

Because when everyone “speaks”, it’s hard to hear individual voices. The digital world is a noisy place to be in — it’s crowded.

Every day, millions of new pieces of content are uploaded. Videos, blogs, photos, podcasts, etc. — each fighting for attention.

Think about this. Today, a teenager can make a decent video with just their smartphone that once required a whole studio.

Even ideas have found their express lane — tweets. What began as a thought can spark interesting conversations, create communities, and build movements with like-minded people.

But with all of this ease comes challenges.

The rapid consumption culture

Have you ever noticed how quickly content fades?

I vividly remember a tweet I shared three months ago. I suggested shifting focus from building a personal brand to just being useful to others.

It resonated widely, gained a lot of likes, and sparked conversations. But soon enough, newer tweets flooded the platform, pushing mine down the feed and out of sight.

Do you even remember that viral video that everyone talked about last week? Or the trend that had us all hooked just a few months ago?

Neither do I. They are like distant memories. Today’s online masterpiece becomes tomorrow’s ancient history — that’s the essence of our rapid consumption culture.

There’s a constant hunger for the “new”. Every social media platform feeds us with the most recent things.

The cycle goes like this: Scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll… update the feed, then scroll some more.

Think about the creators who dedicate hours, days, or even weeks diligently crafting their next masterpiece. But sometimes the digital world can be harsh and unforgiving.

No matter how much effort goes into your creation, the lifespan of your content is short. That’s the reality.

The paradox of choice

With the internet, inspiration is now limitless. You can find tons of cool stuff on social media, blogs, and forums that can inspire you.

Sounds like a dream, right?

But having so many options can be overwhelming. With countless directions to choose from, deciding where to start or how to stand out can be challenging. It’s like being at a crossroads with many different paths. Which one to take?

Imagine you want to start a YouTube channel. There are lots of successful channels out there with different styles.

It’s hard to decide which path to take. The pressure to match their success while staying true to your own ideas can be intimidating.

To do well online, you need to balance all the ideas you see with making smart choices that are true what you want to do.

Harnessing the collective minds

Despite the challenges of our rapid consumption culture and overwhelming choices, the internet also brings opportunities for collaboration.

It’s easier than ever to foster collective creativity — across borders. A programmer from Asia, a designer from Europe, and a content creator from Africa can all work together on a project.

Tools like Github for developers, and Figma for designers have democratized the creative process. We even have shared document platforms and virtual meeting rooms where brainstorming sessions can happen (even though they can be a drag sometimes, you know what I mean.)

Multiple people can co-create in real-time. It cultivates the collective learning. We build on each other’s ideas. We share perspectives, cultural nuances, and tell stories.

That’s how creativity truly thrives.

When diverse minds from different parts of the world come together, you’re not just getting a solution — you’re getting the best of what creativity has to offer.

Thriving in the digital age

Two months ago, I spent weeks writing an essay about how deep breathing positively affects our health and well-being. I put a lot of effort into making sure every sentence made sense and would interest people when I finally posted it online.

But once I posted it, I realized something important. Everything online moves fast. New things keep popping up all the time. My essay was forgotten. It made me feel sad.

Things change online. Imagine you just got the hang of using an app or software — then suddenly, there’s a new update.

The online world keeps evolving, but instead of getting frustrated, I see it as a chance to learn and grow.

What’s most important is having the right mindset. You can see changes as obstacles or opportunities. Whether you’re writing essays, making artworks, or shooting videos; every retake, edit, or revision you make is improving what came before it.

On the internet, where ideas spread fast and everyone can create with less friction, what makes your work stand out is your unique journey and perspective. We all start with a blank page, and that’s okay.

Nothing is truly original. There could be two people with the same base idea, yet end up with two different outputs. How so?

The answer is easy. Based on a person’s series of choices, past experiences, current inspirations, and future aspirations. It’s through your experiences, influences, trials, and what you learn along the way that would make someone go, “Oh, that’s different.” or “I never thought about it that way.”

Final thought

Even though the internet makes it easy for anyone to be a creator and share stuff, it also means there’s tons of things to see, and it’s hard to stand out. But we can look at these challenges through the lens of optimism.

Whether people like what you create is up to them. Your job is to keep learning, share your ideas, connect with others who get you, and just keep going.

The internet will reward you for it in the long run.