The importance of finding your comfort creators
Illustrations by Dide Tengiz
In an era where social media can conjure feelings of anxiety, comparison, and negativity, it’s easy to forget that at its core, social media provides a space for people to connect. There are sides of the internet you can find that provide you with solace, peace, and community — introducing the comfort creator.
As digital spaces become an extension of real life, social media isn’t just entertainment — it’s a powerful tool for self-expression, emotional navigation, and identity-building. For Gen Z and younger audiences, this phenomenon is especially significant.
“Social media serves as a source of comfort for people in various ways. It's not just a platform for connectivity; it can be a sanctuary where we find validation, tap into a wealth of resources and information, freely express our emotions, and indulge in entertainment,” said Taylor Nance, licensed marriage and family therapist.
Comfort creators cultivate feelings of ease and harmony through their social media presence. This type of content allows you to just exist peacefully in a space. Whether it's thrift hauls, Target runs, or ASMR of glittery, gooey squishing slime, there is a place on the internet for everyone to find their comfort. For younger audiences, cozy gaming streams, study vlogs, and lo-fi playlists have also become digital havens, providing a sense of routine, motivation, and relaxation.
Joanna Magaña is a content creator who captures idyllic and blissful moments in her life with sweet snippets of motherhood. “In everything I do, I try to connect authentically with people.”
Magaña credits social media as a useful tool for people to find comfort and ease in their daily lives. “I think that comfort pages give people a sense of connection, authenticity, and normalcy. I think people like seeing creators that are very similar to themselves, have similar homes, similar struggles, and similar hobbies, budgets, and past times.”
For some, seeing parts of yourself in a creator might be enticing, but escaping into a world that is very different from your own could be the appeal to others. Nance said, “I believe the best comfort creators are those who have the ability to whisk us away from the chaos of our lives and transport us to another realm.”
Spuriousness has no place in Alicia Tenise’s content. Initially started as a way to share “budget-friendly fashion finds,” her content has developed into so much more, beginning with a shift in 2020. “I realized that cultivating community was more of a passion for me than sharing my fashion finds 24/7. I gained a lot of followers that year due to the Amplified Black Voices movement on social media, and I tried to use my platform to spark joy and spread positivity while we were all on lockdown.” And Tenise did just that.
Dide Tengiz
“I now encourage them to live their most authentic best lives and empower them to be unapologetic about who they are. It's so cool to see how I've inspired folks to try dopamine dressing, travel solo, or leave their comfort zone and make new friends in their 30s and 40s.” People are drawn to Alicia Tenise for many reasons –– her joy for life, colorful fashion, and travel guides, but above all else, her authenticity. “I've always been unapologetically myself, and I only post what I like –– I don't want to follow trends or make content for an algorithm.”
For younger generations, comfort creators aren’t just about entertainment — they offer a sense of belonging in a digital-first world. From creators sharing their daily high school routines to college students documenting their study sessions, these relatable glimpses into everyday life help teens and young adults feel less alone in their experiences.
“My favorite is content where someone is unabashedly themselves, which I always strive to be,” says content creator and actress Jessie Ruane, who showcases her fairytale upstate home which seamlessly matches her auburn hair and King Charles Spaniel. “I'm sure people are initially visually drawn to the images of my home, but I hope they stay for me. I love sharing little bits of my life, some DIYs, and other random content within the space of my home. I try to make it (both my home and my content) uniquely me. I'm not just a ‘home decor influencer,’ I'm also an interesting artist just being my weird self on the internet.”
In a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, “eight-in-ten teens say that what they see on social media makes them feel more connected to what’s going on in their friends’ lives, while 71% say it makes them feel like they have a place where they can show their creative side. And 67% say these platforms make them feel as if they have people who can support them through tough times.”
Chesy Tronchoni Bello, a licensed professional counselor, believes social media can be a useful tool for people to find community and comfort in their lives, but it should be consumed mindfully. It’s important to remind oneself that social media can often just be a highlight reel. “There is always a level of risk in engaging in these parasocial relationships with content creators. You may find yourself comparing yourself to what you see on the screen (which is never the full truth), and chances are that your mood, your life, and your relationship with self may be negatively impacted,” said Bello. “Some creators are able to provide perspectives that offer validation, reassurance, hope, or a sense of interconnectedness that can be so appealing and sometimes even healing.”
With the constant influx of content, there can also be a flip side.
Taylor added, “Viewers might develop a sense of entitlement to the creator's life or content, driven by the perceived closeness they feel through consuming their content. This dynamic, while providing comfort and familiarity, can occasionally blur boundaries and create challenges.”
Setting personal boundaries is crucial for both creators and consumers. Healthy consumption means being mindful of how social media impacts our emotions and remembering that personal lives are far more complex than curated content. At the same time, witnessing the trajectory of people online whose content resonates with us can foster camaraderie and deepen empathy.
“It's crucial to curate our online experiences by gravitating toward creators whose content resonates with us,” Taylor added. “By doing so, we can proactively manage our exposure to potentially detrimental material, protecting our emotional well-being in the process.”
For Gen Z, who have grown up in an always-online world, cultivating a safe and positive digital space is more important than ever. Finding your favorite comfort creators and allowing pockets of your day to assuage your mind, decompress, and turn off your brain can be a healthy tool to help stay afloat.
Mhaya Polacco is an award-winning writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. Her work, inspired by relationships, mental health, and life's awkwardness, has been featured in Sweety High, Flexx Magazine, and more. With over 30 film festival recognitions, she’s currently in production for a short comedy film. When she's not on set, you can catch her performing stand-up comedy at clubs around LA or creating viral content for brands' social media platforms.
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