Social media is a tool that allows you to connect with friends, family and colleagues from all over the world. It's a way to interact with people you don't talk to often and keep up with the latest news and gossip. With just the scroll of your thumb, you're connected to millions of people throughout the world. Whether it be Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, your followers have access to anything and everything that you post. But we are often so concerned with the number of "likes" we receive, we lose sight of the original intention behind social media.
We spend hours scrolling through our phone, only to be filled with gossip, rumors and worthless information. We get so wrapped up and consumed with other people's lives that we lose focus on our own lives. We begin to compare our life to a stranger's, and strive after the things that they have. I say "we" because I struggle with this as much as the next person. It's so easy to start thinking things like, I wish I had as much as her. I wish I had a car like that. If only I was as pretty or as skinny as her.Comparison makes us feel as if we're not good enough, and eventually, we'll start believing those lies if we continue to allow social media to control us.
Social media also takes away from our time with family and friends. Instead of hanging out and talking face-to-face, we talk through Facebook and Twitter, which inhibits our social interaction and communication skills. We ignore the people right in front of us because we are too distracted by the content on our phones. We make our loved ones feel as if they are unworthy of our attention, our time and our efforts.
Every so often, I'll delete all my social media from my phone and just take a break from it for a week or two. It's refreshing and eye-opening to see how much better you feel when you're not constantly surrounding yourself with it. So do whatever you need to do to better yourself and remind yourself that you are beautiful, unique, and loved. Stop comparing yourself to the people you see on social media. Remember, people only post what makes them look the best and the happiest.