What a time to be alive—and to be a social media user.
For 12 hours, TikTok removed its app, restricting U.S. users from accessing it. A pop-up window explained, “We hope to be back soon with the help of President-elect Trump.” Trump later issued a statement expressing his hope that the U.S. (or an American company) would purchase a 50% stake in TikTok. Shortly after, TikTok lifted its self-imposed ban, thanking Trump for his support. (Reuters)
Meanwhile, Meta announced sweeping changes to its content moderation policies, sparking both celebration and outrage. The platform is replacing strict oversight with “community notes,” allowing anti-LGBTQ+ posts and comments, and loosening restrictions on extremist content—changes that many fear will amplify harmful speech. (NBC News)
On top of that, CEOs from major tech companies have accepted an unprecedented invitation to attend President Trump’s inauguration.
If you’re like me, you just want to post your inspirational quotes, selfies, and maybe a few fun Reels. Remember the line from the old song? “Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you.”
Yes, I definitely feel stuck in the middle. Do you?
The Social Media Dilemma
Here’s the thing: We can’t control what social media platforms do. Someone once described them as “shitty landlords,” and that analogy is spot-on. They provide “free” platforms, but we’re stuck with their ever-changing rules—and the fallout from their decisions.
If you’re like me, you may be rethinking your relationship with social media, both personally and professionally.
- Should I abandon all social media?
- Should I boycott platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Elon Musk’s X?
- Should I rebel by using these platforms to post factual information?
- Would my business thrive without social media marketing?
- Should I block people I disagree with?
- Should I just not care at all?
I don’t have all the answers—but I do know this:
If you’re an entrepreneur, you need a community.
Build Your Community (Without Shaky Foundations)
Community doesn’t have to mean a social media group. As I’ve mentioned, these platforms are like bad landlords. They can lock you out without notice.
Take money mentor Denise Duffield-Thomas, for example. Her thriving Money Bootcamp Facebook Group, with 10,000 members, was shut down without warning—even though her company heavily invested in Meta ads. If it could happen to Denise, it could happen to any of us. (Denise Duffield-Thomas)
That’s why I created Virtual Networkers—a supportive and inspiring community of women entrepreneurs built outside of social media platforms. We connect through Mighty Networks, a paid platform that gives us stability, safety, and authentic conversations that aren’t at the mercy of algorithms or sudden platform changes.
What’s Next?
I’m still figuring out my own social media path, but here’s what I know for sure:
- Build your community or become part of one.
- Avoid relying solely on social media platforms for connection.
Social media can be a force for good—if operators allow it and users demand it. But we’re not there yet. And maybe we’ll never be.
Sending you love and encouragement as we navigate this together.
thanks for this thought filled news Jill. I am also in that quandary and was locked out by META for a couple of months with out explanation last year. I appreciate the mighty networks platform yet am still learning about its scope. Perhaps a virtual network presentation on its strengths or how to navigate/ best utilize it would be helpful?