I constantly see nature core videos on TikTok. These videos encourage viewers to “take a break from scrolling” and enjoy a collage of calming, relaxing scenery. While I often find these videos relaxing, especially when up too late at night scrolling in my bed, I have realized there is a much deeper meaning behind them and the reason for their existence. This week we have been talking about the changing dynamics of media and how we consume it, and I think these types of videos are the embodiment of modern media consumption. In this post, I want to talk about why I enjoy these types of videos but also the irony of them and what their existence says about society’s consumption of social media.
I like these videos because, at their core, they are motivational and uplifting. Nature core videos often promote the beauty of nature and save the earth while also often including a motivational message. With stress and overall mental well-being worsening due to social media, these encouraging messages filled with serene images and soothing music juxtapose the typical content consumed on social media. I enjoy how, even if just for a couple of seconds, these videos take you out of the mindless scrolling how relax and reflect. Overall, I mentioned all the positives I get from nature core videos, but there’s also an ironic aspect to it.
The very nature of posting nature content on social media promoting people to stop using social media and explore the wild is ironic. I’ve found that I would actually rather enjoy seeing these videos of nature myself than have to leave my warm, cozy bed and experience it firsthand. This is a testament that exposes just how consumed we are in social media because even when critiquing it, it is spread through social media. Additionally, I presume that the creators of these videos strive for likes, views, shares, and other measures of virality despite advocating against it. I would also assume that these creators would prefer more users of social media to create more traction around their videos. So that poses the question of if creators genuinely believe in nature core or just do it for views.
My final sentiment is on what these types of videos tell us about how society consumes modern social media. The existence of these videos reveals societies’ yearning for genuine, simplistic content. Social media and content, in general, have gone past the tipping point to the point where we now want to revert our social media habits. People are tired of modern social media’s highly fabricated and judgemental landscape. This trend also illustrates how social media platforms have evolved from places to connect to cultivating mental well-being and a simpler life.
Overall, I enjoy watching these videos when they pop up on my for you page, but after thinking about their reason for existence, I think they reveal a lot about society’s motives in creating and consuming content. While I probably will continue watching these videos, going forward, I will push myself to actually explore the beautiful nature around me rather than having it pop up when scrolling on TikTok.
Hi Nick,
I agree and relate to most of the points you’ve make here: that while nature content on social media may have a positive influence in how they promote the appreciation of nature, they create the adverse effect of making it much more accessible to anyone with a connection to the internet and thus allowing people to experience it (albeit to a lesser extent) from the comfort of their screens. Another consequence of this form of content is that in many instances it can potentially create unrealistic expectations for what nature is supposed to look like, as the more popular content tends to depict picturesque scenery that we don’t typically get exposure to in our day to day lives. In addition, the use of visual effects can create the sense that nature in its most aesthetic form is only seen on social media rather than in the location where it is actually captured.