It's pretty ironic how this article is meant specifically for social media, and I'm writing about what's wrong with it. It started a while back with MySpace, where everyone posted their own blogs, and it's elevated to Twitter and Tumblr, which do about the same thing, yet have the attention and time of so many more people. It started as a way to communicate with the outside world and has expanded to become our entire world. Everywhere we look now, there's a white ghost (Snapchat) and a white bird (Twitter). When they first came out, they were harmless, and they were easy, but now it seems that all we do is stare at our phones, liking photos on Instagram and sending snaps to our best friends. It affects us in many ways that we don't even notice until the damage is done. Hopefully I can help people realize what the overuse of social media can do to our world around us.
The outside world is big and most of the time beautiful, yet our eyes are more attracted to a screen that's as big as our hands. I've been guilty of this as well, always checking sports scores, texting people and tweeting. On average people spend 23 days a year looking at their phones. Twenty-three days. That's a long time that could be spent doing so many things. Imagine a day without social media or your phone entirely. All the things that could be done with the free time you have.
What's seen on social media can also affect the relationships we have in our lives. How often do you see someone ranting about their day or a particular person and they never clarify the direct person? You spend countless, pointless amounts of time wondering and thinking about, "could this be this person? Maybe even me? Then of course you take it as far as to think, "This is about me, so I'm going to shut this person out," thus damaging a relationship.
The best friend feature on Snapchat was the worst invention of all time. We live in a world now that defines our friends for us. Jealousy is a silent killer. When a significant other notices that you're not their best friend on Snapchat, you better be ready for some heat, even if it is your best bud sending pics of the test answers. When being best friends on an app that otherwise has no importance to life in general, you have to realize there's a problem in that relationship.
Pictures, statuses, likes and retweets all mean so much to our world today. People make decisions based on how many retweets or on a poll, and it doesn't make sense. We all see it but just continue to let it affect us. I say all of this, but of course I do all of these things too. I've noticed this problem, and now I'm going to try to make a change. I challenge you to do the same. Look up from your phone. Have a conversation with someone. Share your feelings with someone right in front of you.
