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The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: How Atsuna Matsui aims to use her platform to reform the foster youth system

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

If at first you are daunted with where to start, just bring a cause up slowly into your posts, captions, or stories. The more you post about it, the more your audience will catch-on and may start to resonate with what you are bringing attention to. I think this is the best way to start, start small, and begin to move forward with visualizing a plan using your network and capital.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Atsuna Matsui. Atsuna is a lifestyle content creator on social media. Her content is driven by a strong photography background and ideals of sharing positive self-improvement messages to provide value to whoever comes across her social media presence. These ideals are the foundation for her goals to make profit for purpose, as well as, identify herself with positive virtue to ultimately be the change she wishes to see in our world.

Thank you so much for doing this with us Atsuna! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was a film photographer since the age of 13, when Instagram started I posted my film photos on there and eventually grew more into a lifestyle account and then a positive impact ‘influencer.’ I always prefer to say content creator.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

I did a Travel sponsorship to Germany, but it was planned during the dead of winter and it had the worst snow storm in the past decade while I was there. It was so cold that my photographers hands were getting too numb to operate the camera for more than a few seconds at a time. My flight was delayed home for a few days for the snow to pass. It was still a beautiful experience to see and feel weather completely different form anything I’ve ever seen before.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Thinking that keeping bright colored hair would be easy on my hair. Bleaching can be harsh, especially if you have dark natural hair.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I take on the idea that, nobody will know me completely through social media. So, I try to put out the representation and ideas that I hold the most true and that can be the highest impact for my followers to get the psychological insights into themselves and develop their strengths and accept their weaknesses. I feel a strong drive to use my platform for positivity instead of vacuous materialism; to not fall into patterns of clandestine cynicism, but to discover greater truth.

Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

I’ve had some followers that I go deep into DM conversations often, It means a lot when people tell me that the things that I’ve mentioned into my captions have impacted them to make change or given them insight to conquer their struggles. It can make me feel like a quasi-counselor at moments at although I’m not qualified for that, I relish the opportunity to further create more positivity in the world, because that’s the motivation and legacy of why I’m here. I want to do good and be good. Everything else is just a side note.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

I felt a friction within after about a year of doing IG lifestyle content. I was feeling torn and wanted to make a change. I wanted to be the person that I wanted to follow on Instagram. I wasn’t happy with how I was being and I wanted to find a common ground. There didn’t seem to be a reason that I couldn’t make lifestyle content in a way that was devoted wholly to the ideals that I deeply resonate with.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

The community as a whole is not very aware that homelessness is a symptom of deeper issues in our society. If those in the community are more aware that the majority of homeless people are either suffering from mental illness, mental trauma, or former foster youth. They are disadvantaged and haven’t been recognized in society as people that deserve a fair chance in life.

The Government has repeatedly opted to neglect the very foundation of our society — the youth, to spend money in different sectors. Creating more awareness on the lack of spending on the very pillars of society such schools, after school programs and the foster youth system.

My boyfriend and I are motivated to fix the foster youth system. That’s our end goal and cause. I have minimal capital to make the significant impact I wish to do at the moment. I plan to launch a skin care company in 2020 that is rooted in profit for purpose to help aid Foster Youth.

What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for a social good?

If at first you are daunted with where to start, just bring a cause up slowly into your posts, captions, or stories. The more you post about it, the more your audience will catch-on and may start to resonate with what you are bringing attention to. I think this is the best way to start, start small, and begin to move forward with visualizing a plan using your network and capital.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

  • Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Deep satisfaction only comes from doing things that deeply fulfill you and that keep your integrity.
  • Regret doing things rather than not doing them.
  • Life is short, but it’s still a marathon.
  • Never ever give up on yourself, you are the alpha and omega of your life.
  • Effort is between you and you.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I hope to start a hashtag and PSA

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Life shrinks or expands in direct proportion to one’s courage” -Anais Nin

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Sen Ron Wyden. I know he has put in lots of good work to put in sweeping reforms for the Foster System. Having greater knowledge on a legislative and widespread administrative difficulties on meeting these ends would be deeply enriching for me.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

@atsunamatsui

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!


The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: How Atsuna Matsui aims to use her platform to reform the… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.