When Social Media Turns a Passion into a Performance Under Pressure

Let’s be honest — we live in a society dictated by social media. Whether it’s beauty standards, performance in sports, or even the most mundane activities, there’s this constant need to please and to appear perfect.

I never thought it would affect me, but recently I had to take a step back from all of it — and here’s why.

The Discovery of a Passion

It all started in 2022 when I decided to try motocross for the first time. After just one lap, I knew I was going to love it. The adrenaline, the challenge, the drive to push myself further with every heat — all of it hit me harder than I expected.

A week later, I bought my very first dirt bike, a Yamaha TT-R 230, to start off slowly.

I was able to progress at my own pace, knowing I didn’t have the same power as a full cross bike, but that’s exactly what I needed to build confidence and work on my technique.

For those who don’t know, motocross is a very technical sport!

Body position is everything — the attack position, cornering position, jump takeoff and landing… it’s a lot to master early on if you want to start with good habits.

I can’t even count how many times I heard,

“Elbows up, butt out, lean forward in corners, one finger on the brakes/clutch, look ahead,”

Again and again. And that was great! I wanted to learn the right way so I could improve and one day ride a more powerful bike.

That’s also when I started taking my Instagram page seriously. I built a wonderful community of people from all over, especially in the motocross world, and shared my learning journey with thousands of followers.

My goal was to inspire other women to take up the sport, no matter their age or experience.

2024 Season

It was finally time! The moment had come to switch bikes and take over my boyfriend’s YZ250F since he was planning to upgrade to the new model.

I was super excited — and ready to make the jump. We adjusted the bike to fit my weight, height, and skill level.

Still, I knew I’d need time to get used to my new ride… and those first few laps were, well, rough.

I felt like I had never ridden a bike before. I was slower than a snail, struggled to handle the power, and to be 100% honest — I was terrified. Every heat became a disappointment because I saw no improvement at all.

A Choice to Make

One day, I asked myself: why am I doing this to myself? How could something that used to bring me so much joy now make me miserable?

So I decided to be honest and open up about my struggles to some MX girls I followed on Instagram. They reassured me and gave me great advice to help me improve. I even trained with one of them at Xtown, and for the first time in ages, I actually had fun on my new bike.

But once I got back to my usual track, that feeling disappeared.

Obviously, not all tracks are the same — soil type, terrain, weather, layout, and jumps all affect difficulty.

The track just 15 minutes from my house is considered more advanced than Xtown’s, and since it’s the one I ride most often, I had no choice but to perform on that track’s conditions.

After many discussions with my boyfriend, colleagues, and friends, I realized that if I wanted to enjoy motocross again, I needed a different bike.

I’d had the chance to test an electric dirt bike a few times — and each time, I had an absolute blast. I rediscovered the joy of riding, no matter the track conditions. After every heat, I felt proud because I knew I’d ridden better than the last.

Instead of worrying about when or where I’d crash, I focused on my body position and riding technique.

So, I bought a Surron Storm Bee, a 100% electric motocross bike — the same one I’d tested before.

Choosing an electric bike over a gas one was a personal decision, based on my skills and comfort level.

What I didn’t expect was the pressure that came from social media and the MX community.

The Pressure of Perfection

Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are spaces where everyone shares their version of perfection.

You see motocross riders mastering powerful machines, pulling off big jumps and tricks, and exuding unshakable confidence. But what we forget is that these photos and videos capture a single moment — carefully chosen, edited, and far from everyday reality.

Still, this kind of content creates unrealistic expectations for regular people. By choosing an electric bike, I felt like I was stepping away from that image. Some comments and subtle digs implied my choice was “too easy,” that I’d given up too soon, that I’d bought a toy — not a real bike — and that I wasn’t a “REAL” rider.

Then came the endless comparisons between gas and electric bikes — often with a condescending tone.

These comments, coming from people who don’t even know me, really made me think. Why should I have to meet their standards? Why should their opinions matter more than my experience? You might say it’s part of the game when you put yourself out there — and that’s not entirely wrong.

Social media can be inspiring, but it can also become a courtroom where users judge others’ choices without knowing the full story.

Too often, we forget that behind every screen, there’s a real person with their own challenges, strengths, and weaknesses.

In Conclusion

Want to know the truth? My goal in life is simple — to have fun!

I don’t race, I don’t plan on doing crazy jumps, and all I want is to leave the track feeling proud because I know I’ve improved.

Not mastering the YZ250F wasn’t a failure — it was me accepting my limits. In the end, I chose the electric bike because I want to ride for me, not to fit an image or meet anyone else’s expectations. Maybe I didn’t conquer the gas bike, but instead of quitting or feeling sorry for myself, I found a solution that lets me keep doing what I love.

That, to me, is real success: moving forward at my own pace, staying true to who I am, no matter what others think.

And honestly, that’s the real challenge of our world today — staying authentic.

I do want to mention that my friends and the people who truly know me have supported me every step of the way — no judgment at all ♥️

I felt it was important to share this experience because I know I’m not the only one who’s been through something similar — no matter the sport or passion.

In the end, what really matters? The type of bike I ride — or the fact that I’m out there enjoying the sport just like any other rider?

With this article, I just want to remind everyone who’s ever felt judged for their choices: social media is only part of the story.

Yours is unique, and no one has the right to rewrite it for you.

See you next time!

Gab xx