Think people on social media only want bite-sized videos and three-second dopamine hits? I proved otherwise. In just a few months, I gained a huge amount of new Instagram followers with long-form, essay-style posts. Not only did they read them — they actively commented, shared, and reposted. That’s the power of words. When used intelligently, they transport what pictures can’t.

I’ve been active on Instagram for a very long time, long enough to witness every trend, every platform “reinvention,” and plenty of shifts in what works — and what doesn’t. Along the way, I’ve also learned that most of what so-called social media experts tell you is just hot air. What actually works is often much simpler: community building, engaging with people, and creating content that respects their intelligence.

Turns out, if you treat people like people instead of metrics, they’ll stop scrolling. Social media isn’t lost to noise, it can still be a space for real communication.