Friends, but not Followers

🎙️ What happens when your real-life friendships don’t match your online connections? In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, we dive into the complexities of setting boundaries on social media. Join Njoki and her friends as they explore how to protect their peace, curate uplifting online spaces, and navigate awkward moments like unfollowing a friend. Whether it’s muting a timeline, managing your mental health, or advising your younger cousin on who to follow, this conversation offers wisdom, humor, and tools for reclaiming your digital well-being.

📓 Show Notes

Episode Highlights:

• Noel opens up about the emotional tension of being friends offline but not online.
• Njoki and others share why they choose not to follow everyone—even friends—on social media.
• Discussion on curating online spaces to protect mental health.
• Exploration of deeper digital literacy themes: trolling, bots, fake accounts, and “finstas.”
• A practical “Clean Up Your Feed” activity to reset and reclaim your digital timeline.

Mentions in the Episode:

• Mental health and content fatigue
• Setting personal boundaries in online friendships
• Difference between real-life relationships and digital engagement
• The pressure to follow or perform online
• The importance of prioritizing joy, peace, and authenticity

✨ Reflective Questions

1. How does your online space make you feel right now—uplifted or drained?
2. Have you ever followed someone out of obligation? What did you learn from that experience?
3. What kinds of content make you feel safe, inspired, or affirmed?
4. What’s one boundary you could set today to protect your peace online?
5. How would you explain to a friend why you muted or unfollowed them?
6. How do you handle seeing violent or distressing content online?
7. What advice would you give your younger self about managing your digital circle?
8. When do you feel the most pressure to engage or post online?
9. How do you balance honesty and privacy when sharing online?
10. What does a healthy digital environment look like to you?