Rain Or Shine || A Look At My Favorite Social Media Platform
When the discussion about people’s favorite social media platforms is had, the usual suspects come into the picture. TikTok, Facebook, Instagram - all wildly popular and widely used among the world’s social population. These apps have all come under intense speculation year after year of their long term benefits on the mental health of its users and the safety barriers in place to protect their users. I’d like to touch on my favorite social media platform - one not so widely used amongst the big names, but I believe it is pushing a resolute mission. Strava.
Toxicity and negativity always seem to be at the forefront of what people talk about when it comes to problems with social media platforms. These companies very clearly did not set out to have a “toxic” platform filled with negativity, but as the platforms grow and more people join in on the conversation, sometimes the worst can come out and then the ball is spinning out of control. This can clearly be a lot to handle and can have some very ugly public growing pains as a company. Strava seems to have completely nipped that from its inception in 2009.
A look at the Strava Dashboard and Athlete Page View
To give some background for my admiration, I believe becoming more and more lost today is the importance of physical activity in our lives and how much it directly affects our mentality. Reduced levels of anxiety, depression, negative mood, improved self-esteem and cognitive function just touch a bit of the benefits associated with breaking a sweat. Yet, a staggering amount of people make the decision to actively ignore the benefits because of the effort that is associated with the task. Letting work, school, social life, family, etc. take precedent over their overall well-being. Learning to manage these tasks are difficult and are apart of everyone’s lives.
Sports changed me as a person. They gave me purpose, supportive community, and a sense of pride from my youth that I have carried over into adulthood. Individual success in activities that break down the personal mental barriers that we set for ourselves are some of the most gratifying achievements we can experience - a dopamine hit that I believe is stronger than that of mindlessly scrolling through your Facebook feed. With that achievement comes the weeks/months/years of work that is involved of reaching those successes and this is where Strava I believe has gracefully succeeded.
It just is what it is, one day at a time.
- Jack Coyne, NYC.
Strava at its core is a fitness tracker. One of many available on the market for the matter. But as GPS technology advanced through the early 2010’s and encouragement of increased physical activity still pushes forward, the app began to flourish and build a strong, tight-knit community. Tracking the grind involved with reaching goals, the good days, and the bad days of your friends, strangers, and your favorite athletes across multiple sports. Tap their bright orange logo on your smart device, start an activity, and that’s it. Short, sweet, and to the point.
Strava allows you to customize your route or commute and share with other users on the platform. Their Routes features builds a community from city to city who are passionate about reing a unique experience.
There is a certain “no bullshit” filter that is integrated in the platform from its inherit simplicity. It’s just you and your performance. And on the other side of the phone is a community of people who can relate to the struggle of having good and bad days. Reinforcing your efforts and pushing you forward into the next day. Personally, Strava has enhanced my view of the benefits that social media can bring when I began using it in 2015. This is the only application that made me feel accountable for my actions in the best way possible. It made me be honest with myself, and I believe some of us subconsciously are not honest with ourselves when we can hide behind the filter or our words. Fabrication of performance takes a lot more effort than actually just doing the work, and Strava innocently rids the user of being fake. Strava’s use of maps shows the progression, travels, and experiences the user has whilst using the app.
What distinguishes Strava from other fitness trackers and social media platforms is the positive emotional connection it engenders. Encouraging and community oriented, it’s devoid of the negativity and toxicity that plagues most sharing networks. There’s something uniquely special about being privy to the daily grind of my favorite multi-sport athletes. Their transparency holds me accountable. In turn I help hold my community accountable. And openly sharing our collective fitness experience – the highs and the lows — makes all of us better. -Rich Roll
Breaking barriers will be apart of our lives until our fateful day comes, and being able to track our progression in even the slightest way possible through those hurdles is beneficial. People have different needs and value things on differing scales - this app will forever be special in my experience with tech for its honest approach to fitness and the community that pushes for a healthier world.