With a name like Jazz, it’s practically inevitable that I ended up as a massive hippie.
My parents, psychedelic flowers that they are, blossomed out of the ’60s, and my own existence isn’t too far removed from a generation fueled by flower power and love-ins. I grew up going to music festivals and Hare Krishna temples, and it was among these dreadlocked and flower-laden free spirits that I developed my passion for community.
While I haven’t quite packed up shop and started a commune (yet), I am a sucker for anything that connects people, and, in a roundabout way, this is how I ended up in the NFT space.
From Collectibles to NFTs: A Digital Evolution
As a little hippie kid, I loved to collect weird things. At one time, my most prized possessions were my moss and lichen collection, then my troll doll collection, then my Rugrats memorabilia… but of course, like everyone else, I was also caught up in the collectibles craze that swept through my primary school.
In many ways, stepping into the NFT space harkens back to those days. If you’re around my age, I can pretty much guarantee you were a fellow collector of Pokémon cards. The most exciting thing in your life at the time was opening a new card pack and showing them off to your friends; it was memorizing all 150 Pokémon and bragging about it; it was transacting clandestine trades under the desk when the teacher wasn’t looking.
These were collectibles that created an entire community, even a movement, around them.
While I did love my moss and lichen specimens, it was a hobby that existed entirely in a vacuum—it lacked community and connection. This, I would wager, is why moss and lichen collecting failed to catch on, while Pokémon is a $95 billion franchise.
The excitement that stole the hearts and minds of the card-collecting children of the ’90s is being revived in a new generation of enthusiasts, and I, it seems, am among them. I’ve moved from fungus to trading cards to online assets, and I suddenly find myself reliving the high that came from catching a much-coveted glimpse of a Mewtwo.
My childhood trading card folders have been transformed into digital collections where I can watch the empty outlines of my Cat Stickers fill up every time I buy a fuzzy little NFT. Most importantly, I can share that experience with others. Pride of ownership coupled with a sense of belonging is a powerful thing, and although these experiences have been transferred to the digital realm, they are no less potent.
How Social Media Fuels the NFT Community
Social media has become the backbone of NFT engagement, where everyone comes together to share insights, trends, and exclusive drops. These platforms not only provide real-time updates but also foster deeper interactions, making NFTs more than just digital assets—they are social experiences.
Twitter: The Heartbeat of NFT Conversations
When it comes to NFTs on social media, Twitter is the go-to hub. It’s where news breaks, projects launch, and collectors engage in real-time discussions. I resisted Twitter for years, but once I joined, I realized I was missing out on the pulse of the NFT world.
Why Twitter is Crucial for NFTs:
- Real-time updates: The fast-moving NFT space requires a quick-response platform.
Networking power: Retweets and replies create an endless friend-of-a-friend network.
Twitter Spaces: Public voice chats foster live community engagement.
I still remember waking up to find that DYGYCON retweeted me—a small moment, but one that made me feel part of something bigger. Twitter’s NFT community thrives on collaboration, visibility, and engagement.
One of the things I’ve been enjoying most about the Twitter space is the aptly named Twitter Spaces. These are public voice calls that any listener can request to join. When I listened to my very first Twitter Space, I immediately felt like part of a little family. I followed each of the other listeners, and not long after, one of those listeners joined my Discord server and became one of the most active members there.
Discord: The Core of NFT Communities
If Twitter is the front porch of NFTs, Discord is the living room. Here, projects build their communities, and members interact directly with creators.
Why Discord is Vital for NFTs:
Direct communication: Fans connect with creators in real time.
Community-driven projects: Exclusive NFT drops, giveaways, and discussions happen here first.
Project transparency: Developers share roadmaps and updates with their supporters.
Opening Discord for the first time was like visiting the local bar in a city I’d just moved to—in my case, my local was AtomicHub in Non-Fungible Town.
The place was packed, overwhelming, and exciting, and after a little while, I got to know some of the regulars. It didn’t take long before I started following those regulars to parties of their own, where I met more people who were hosting even more parties, and so on.
Joining the servers of other projects was where I really started feeling like part of the NFT community—not as an observer, but as a participant. I’m still the new kid, but I’ve been welcomed with open arms, and now I’m throwing around cat memes and Pepe emojis with the best of them.
Twitch: Live Streaming the NFT Experience
While Twitch is known for gaming, it’s also a growing platform for NFT creators, artists, and blockchain projects.
Why Twitch Matters for NFTs:
Live interaction: Streamers engage with their audience in real time.
Behind-the-scenes access: Viewers see projects develop firsthand.
Community bonding: Inside jokes, Q&A sessions, and fan engagement strengthen connections.
So far, I’ve really only dipped my toes into the blockchain game streaming side of Twitch, which is still surprisingly entertaining, even as a non-gamer. I do follow a handful of NFT game projects, simply because I was taken in by the creators themselves and, as a result, became invested in their work.
One of my favorite Twitch moments? Watching the creator of Costume Clash test out a new race track while chatting about Smarties candy. Seeing blockchain gaming unfold live adds a personal touch to the digital world.
The Future of NFTs on Social Media
The NFT movement is built on connection and ownership, and social media fuels that growth. Twitter spreads news, Discord builds tight-knit communities, and Twitch offers live experiences. Each platform plays a role in making NFTs more than just digital assets—they’re social experiences.
Since jumping on this fast-moving bandwagon, I’ve been taken on a tour of the online NFT community, finding things I never would have imagined going in. And while the setting has changed, the sense of belonging remains just as strong as it was in the music festivals of my youth.
So, what’s next? Maybe someone will finally create moss and lichen NFTs, and my childhood dreams will be complete. Until then, I’ll keep collecting, connecting, and celebrating this digital revolution.
Multidisciplinary artist. Pagan silversmith. Figuring it out as she goes.