Social media has turned into a cornerstone of first world life. People use websites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep in touch, advertise, and inform. It gives the masses a platform to connect with others around the world. The power of social media in our society cannot be underestimated. However, social media has taken over our world in not just a positive way. By promoting unrealistic standards for life and damaging basic human relations, social media detrimentally affects society. The older generation has a tendency to criticize the younger generation for their obsession with technology and social media, and rightfully so. Though it is important to recognize the usefulness of social media, it is just as important to identify the vices of social media.

Social Media allows people to hide behind a façade. People can pretend to be anyone they want on social media, and few people rarely choose to post the full truth. A majority only post the highlights of their life - the most flattering moments - in order to trick others into thinking their life looks that perfect all the time. People want to appear as though they have everything put together and figured out when truthfully, people are messes. By only posting the uncommonly extraordinary things, people create this false perception that their life consists solely of highs. And these highs range from cuisine to activities to appearances. Rarely do people post their lows, however, everyone struggles with low points on a very regular basis. In all reality, life does not look like a social media account.

Unfortunately, plenty of people believe the social media lie and compare their life to that lie. For women, this often applies to appearances. Not even Kylie Jenner looks like Kylie Jenner all the time, but that is not the problem. The problem comes into account when women compare their six in the morning on a Monday to Kylie Jenner’s Friday night date night. Too often social media turns life into a competition. Who has accomplished the most? Who looks the prettiest? Who lives the most adventurous life? People manifest a fabricated, perfect life on social media, and people buy into the deception. Social media allows people to hide behind a mask of their own creating, but other people believe that mask is real. And then they compare their raw face to the multitudes of decorated, fake masks around them, giving them a false idea of what life should look like.

At least in America, technology has turned into a blatant addiction. People live on and through their phones, computers, and tablets, missing the beauty found in the moment. At concerts, the audience now Snapchats their experience instead of actually experiencing the music. When friends get together, they spend just as much time on a device as engaged in conversation. Apps like Pinterest and Facebook take people away from the present. Famous French artist, JR, says, “The more social media we have, the more we think we're connecting, yet we are really disconnecting from each other.” Social media distracts from community and relationship building by creating the illusion of social interaction, but it does not replace face to face communication.

Social media has incredible usefulness in a world that revolves around technology. People around the world can connect and communicate in a revolutionary way. This promotes the information revolution and stimulates economic/business growth. However, as with anything, when used incorrectly, social media negatively impacts the world. People can become so enveloped and engrossed by social media they forget to actually live in the moment, connect with people, and make lasting memories. As a general statement, Americans spend too much time on some type of technological device. And since social media gives people the ability to hide behind a curtain like the Wizard of Oz, people can pretend to be whoever they want. This creates an unrealistic image of life. When people use social media, they should take advantage of all it has to offer, but they should also actively avoid the undesirable aspects.