In this technological age, we are prone to opening up Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and posting what has happened in our day. And with platforms like Snapchat, we receive almost instantaneous feedback on an event that just happened. We can post stuff as it’s happening, with the visual aspect, so we can actually see the event, instead of having to imagine it. But there’s a problem with how connected the 21st century has become.
We, as a society, have become obsessed with the idea of updating, tweeting, and snapping. We have an insatiable appetite for our friends knowing the ins and outs of our day. But it doesn't stop there. Even when we aren't consistently updating our friends, they are still updating you. You still see what’s happening, and you're always in the loop. So that can’t be that bad right?
But it is. We are slowly cutting out the “human aspect.” The need for face-to-face communication is becoming less and less. I don't need to set up a time to talk to my friend and see their face, I can just call them on FaceTime. It’s not the same but it’s good enough right? Wrong! I love talking to my friends in person, where I don't have to worry about a call dropping.
I have great respect for social media. It is the gateway for long distance friendships. It allows people to talk to their friends who live in other countries, where texting would be expensive. But when you see the person regularly, it really just strikes me as a constant call for attention. When you post that you just went to Starbucks, I don't really care, and your friends probably don't either. People are very prone to oversharing on social media. And it can get rather annoying.
I’m all for technology and social media. I strongly support its usage. But I think it’s overused. We don't need to post every detail about our lives on ANY of the social media platforms. And we don't need to read every detail about our friends lives either. We essentially throw away our privacy by disclosing so much of our lives, especially to people we don't see regularly, or ever.
My biggest concern, once again, is that the insane usage of social media to share our lives in great detail creates problems in face-to-face interaction. I don't need to talk to you in person if I know all the details. All I'm saying is that you can have social media, but be careful. Don't cut the “human aspect” out of it. Take time to look up from your phone and live YOUR life.
