Brain Dump | Morning Musings

Friends with engagement!

There's that kind of friend that only hang out with you because that would generate them engagement which these days could mean money. They won't hang around despite they used to be your close friends because you're not bringing them some type of engagement. Do you have that type of friends or are you that friend?

Welcome to my brain dump, it’s morning and when I am able to sit down, sipping a cup of coffee while contemplating about life and emptying it out a little.

I don't know about your but some people that went to school with me are instagram influencers and content creators. Though they have their main job, being content creator is somehow part of gen Z's life including mine. I mean,in the past, when I interviewed elementary school kids during my uni courses, 70% wanted to be a youtuber. I thought it would be an outlandish response but guess what? these days it might be best being one since the ads money are okay money in Indonesia. Those income are excluding endorsement and ads deals. So, once you're passing a certain number of followers, even becoming a micro influencer is something.

With that kind of thing being normalized, hanging out with these people can seem quite bothersome. I was reminded of this because I passed through a cafe where a few months ago attempted to invite one of our friends who are now in the influencer circle. They all seemingly have this circle and cafes sometimes paid them to be there just because they would also influence their followers to go there. Sometimes though, the cafe aren't that good and in their daily life they wouldn't even go there.

So, during that time, though that friend house is literally in front of the cafe, she won't go outside. The thing is, a lot of friends that came at that time also commented that it wasn't the first time happening. She would only come if the other influencers friends are invited and there would be some type of echo chambers engagement.

While I find it pretty shallow, some people are built that way and it's the only way for them to seemingly survive. They want to get on the radar and while maybe it's a good thing, sometimes I find it a little fake. They want to interact with you because you have something for them rather what you have to offer.

The thing is, I would be okay if the context is all about business but within friendship, I don't think it's good to mix the two. There should be a clear distinction and I find that sometimes things over here can be like that too.

I saw a person that used to be famous ranting away about their contribution and how much this person has spent on a gettogether. I don't know the whole story but if the intention was not a business from the get-go, then why bring it up back? So, why not being honest with each other that the event they're organizing whatever that is will bring them mutual benefits and rather than coating it as a "friendship" just be clear that it's all mere business and profits involved.

Sometimes I wonder if there's a genuine interaction or everything is all just smoke and mirror. While I believe 10% are genuine, the rest are unfortunately still under a question. That's one thing I learned about adulting that there's no shame and leave the shame out the door if you want to get money.