We spend much of our time online. We follow influencers, celebrities, join communities that share our interests or our hobbies, and we form relationships. We find our ‘cliques’. But, how many of them are genuine, and how many are just after your ‘clicks’? 

The Age of Online Connection

Once upon a time online communities were simple, text-based forums. While they weren’t anything fancy (although you had a much better chance of getting the username you wanted), they were the start of what we know the internet for today.

Now, platforms like Reddit host more than 100,000 communities, also known as subreddits, for just about every interest you can think of (including ones you’d never even thought of). Instagram and TikTok bring us influencers, creativity and cat videos. Discord and Slack create hubs for collaboration and real-time socialising. X is, well, X. It’s never been easier to find ‘our people’.

On average, we spend more than 2 hours per day in on our online communities, so it’s important that they are genuine. But, how can you tell if you’re in a ‘clique’, or a ‘click’?

Clique vs. Click: How to Spot the Difference

A ‘clique’ community encourages two-way interaction, where members feel seen and valued beyond their engagement or purchasing power. They provide spaces for collaboration, diversity of thought, and real emotional connections. When you spend time in this community, you may feel energised, comforted or heard.  

A ‘click’ community may have minimal interaction beyond sales pitches, and may have a constant push to monetise their interactions. They may use emotional appeals building one-sided relationships, or create the fear of missing out (FOMO). Their content may come with a catch; for example offering ‘too-good-to-be-true’ promises in return for sharing or engaging with their posts. When you spend time in this community, you may feel drained, insecure or unheard.

Quiz: Is Your Community a Clique or a Click?

Take the quiz and share your results with #CliqueOrClick to see what others think about their online spaces!

Conclusion

Finding our ‘cliques’ can be incredibly positive for our mental health and sense of belonging. But, it’s all too easy to fall into communities that aren’t as positive. Knowing how to identify which communities are genuine and which ones aren’t enables us to make conscious decisions about how and where we spend our time. We have the power to demand authenticity and to seek out spaces where we feel appreciated.    

So, what do you think - are you in a clique or a click? Let me know your thoughts with #CliqueOrClick!