Love according to the internet
When was the last time you said “I love you” to someone? Was it yesterday, last week, or nearly a decade ago? Regardless of when this was said, has social media played a part in why it hasn't been said faster? If so, how? If not, what other reason might explain the challenges one may face when expressing love for someone? As a person who frequently uses social media, I’ve completely lost track of how many videos/posts I’ve seen that center on the topic of love. These posts and videos are usually covered by influencers, podcasts, newsletters, etc. Are these public figures aiming to brainwash people into not caring about love to the extent that it becomes viewed as something unattainable? Hopefully not.
A prime example of this can be found when exploring “alpha male” podcasts that inspire men to consider and (hopefully) act a certain way when it comes to dealing with love. These types of podcasts date back to 2004 but recently after the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve become widely recognized as several videos are available that highlight their interactions with women and themes of love. One podcast that comes to mind that fits this description is Fresh and Fit.
“Fresh and Fit” is a podcast that aims to “Help men become better with dating/game, fitness, social media, and finances.” Alongside this summary, a book titled “Why Women Deserve Less" authored by one of the hosts (Myron Gaines) is being advertised to encourage their audience to buy. Reflecting on this vision statement, it’s clear that this podcast shouldn't be taken too seriously despite its intention to help men advance their dating lives. Other topics like fitness, social media, and finances are embedded in this podcast but the way the hosts tackle the conversion of love is seen more as a game than a diligent process. This podcast also launched in 2020, proving my point on how most “alpha male” podcasts that were released in 2020 and after usually have the worst content and message on love.
Other love-focused podcasts that contrast with Fresh and Fit which are hosted by sane individuals (male or female) take a comedic approach to the concept of love. One that came to mind is “Girls Gotta Eat”, co-hosted by Ashley Hesseltine and Rayna Greenberg who use this method when producing new podcast episodes. Of course, there are other ways you can find public discourse on love through newsletters, blogs, and videos but podcasts seem to make the most impact. Listeners of these podcasts might find themselves inclined to purchase merch or promotional items that are advertised, which achieves the objectives established by these podcasts regarding love.
Diving into some of these promotional items, in the “Why Women Deserve Less” book, one quote that stood out to me was how “Women are surrounded by this tornado of misinformation, but nobody corrects them because we want to fuck them.” Again this message is one of many reasons why love is such a difficult topic in the media. Perhaps the main idea behind how love is perceived publicly is to blur the lines between love and lust. Maybe nobody wants to get fucked over, especially when it comes to romance.
