A young Sydney business owner has sparked a national conversation after revealing what she describes as Australia's 'fake' and 'transactional' society, particularly in major cities.
The business journey that exposed social disconnect
Mariam Stevenson, founder of gut health supplement company Nueday Wellness, took to TikTok to share her observations about the current state of relationships across Australia. The Sydneysider explained how starting her own business unexpectedly revealed harsh truths about community dynamics.
'We have a real problem here in Australia and that is we don't have a real sense of community here,' Ms Stevenson stated. 'I feel like communities, or society as whole, has become very transactional, quite superficial, and there's so much of that one up culture.'
The entrepreneur told Daily Mail that she initially felt unsupported by her community after launching her business venture. Her increased social media presence highlighted the disconnect between online interactions and genuine community engagement.
Transactional relationships and Tall Poppy Syndrome
Ms Stevenson expressed disappointment at how many modern relationships operate on a 'give and take' basis, where each person expects clear benefits from interactions. She described the prevailing attitude as 'what's in it for me' rather than genuine connection.
'There will be people that reach out to me that want to hang out with me now because there's something in it for them, like getting free advice from me now that I've started a business,' she explained.
The business owner also noted that Tall Poppy Syndrome became clearer when I started the business and did something different. She described this phenomenon as being 'really fuelled in our society,' making it difficult to build authentic relationships when 'time is money' becomes the dominant mindset.
Public reaction and urban versus rural divide
Aussies responded with mixed reactions to Ms Stevenson's assessment of modern relationships. Many social media users acknowledged similar experiences, with one commenting: 'Definitely feel it. Hard to be authentic when things are transactional.'
Another observed: 'I think a lot of people are craving community that social media offers without the addiction.'
A significant point of discussion emerged around the differences between urban and rural communities. Several commenters suggested that regional towns maintain stronger community bonds than major cities.
'Go to rural towns, with populations less than 3,000, and you'll almost instantly feel that sense of community that the urban areas lack,' one person wrote.
Ms Stevenson agreed with this assessment, noting that 'regional communities have held on to those values and they don't have to be better than others.' She contrasted this with the intense competition prevalent in big cities like Sydney, where 'we're all competing against each other in some sort of way.'
The conversation highlights growing concerns about social connection in an increasingly competitive environment, particularly as cost of living pressures and housing scarcity create what one commenter described as a society where 'everyone is your competitor if resources are scarce.'
