selfascontent

Selfascontent refers to the practice of turning a person's identity, experiences, and personal narratives into content for online platforms. In this paradigm, the self is the primary material, and posting, curating, and narrating life events are ways to generate engagement, build audiences, and potentially monetize attention.

The term gained traction with the rise of social media and influencer economies in the 2010s, though related ideas such as self-branding and life-logging predate it. Advocates view selfascontent as a means of visibility, creative expression, and relationship-building, while critics worry about privacy and commodification of intimate life.

Practices commonly include short-form posts, vlogs, streams, podcasts, and photo essays that foreground the creator's voice. Techniques emphasize storytelling, authenticity, and audience feedback, while platform algorithms can incentivize performativity, sensationalism, and constant content production.

Implications include opportunities for personal branding, professional work, and community formation, but also risks to mental health, privacy, and autonomy. Ethical concerns center on consent, boundaries, data collection, and the potential for exploitation by sponsors or platforms.