I can't say I haven't delved into the social media era...because I totally have. I grew up in a generation that places technology on a pedestal, so I know what it feels like to be consumed. Time and time again I try to fight against the status quo of social media, but I often find myself drowning in the social norms that come as an unfortunate additive to the already burdensome package. The world tells me that I need to post selfies to boost my confidence, I need to Snapchat every second of my day for people to see, and I need to sit and wait for the likes and comments to come rushing in. But heaven forbid I double post on Instagram and I'm irritating and unbearable. Why is it that with each future generation we focus less and less on the people in front of us and more on the people behind the cellphone or computer screen? Why has this generation fallen into a "feature creep", desiring new, and pointless features that come with old products that only causes major confusion for the rest of the population? We have been brainwashed into thinking we somehow need approval from the world to be a living, breathing human being.
"We equate more features for a better deal"
Distraction deals with concentration. It is so easy to pack life with such a multiplicity of interests that there is a lack of focus on what is most important: your person. Your person is so unique, treasured, and beautiful. Something that I've noticed recently growing up with social media is that people glorify people. Not in a "wow you're pretty cool" kind of way, but in a "I want to be you, know you, and have every single attribute that you do" kind of way. It's actually pretty terrifying, and I sometimes find myself in the same hole. We desire more features, new things, new 'whats' and we are never fully satisfied. People are spending extended time wishing they could be someone else and losing the image of their true self.
"To thine own self be true"
Yes, Hamlet can be incorporated into pretty much EVERYTHING. This statement was the topic of discussion quite a bit in class recently and can be related to almost every situation. Be true to yourself. You were created fearfully and wonderfully in the inimitable image of a God who longs to know YOU. Not your favorite celebrity, your mentor, your friend, your parent, or grandparent...you. We need to stop idolizing the people and things around us and restore admiration and idolization in JESUS. We need restoration in WHO we are and forget about all the false, meticulous "whats". We need to realize that our social media does not define how important we are. I want people to know that there is someone up in the clouds who values your person far more than He values your materials. In fact, He could care less about how many likes, comments, or followers you get from Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. The only thing He cares about is seeing how much you love Him despite the unpopular opinion given by your peers. I think this generation has stopped following their wishes and dreams in fear of what other people will think of them. Too thine own self be true; don't let the world dictate how you think. You were given a brain for a reason.
The next time you go to post a selfie on the internet think about your motives: is it really "just because"? Or deep down is it a feeling of inferiority and a desire to be accepted by the people around you? I know this isn't always the case, regardless it's a difficult concept for fall away from and doesn't happen at the drop of a hat. Our hearts need to be cared for. Our looks and surface need a whole lot less intention. In the long run, what we're going to be remembered for and valued for is not who we were as 'so-and-so', or by what cool new technological gadget we possess, but by who we are. It's okay to stand out if the entire world were in black and white all the time it would get exceptionally boring. As a generation full of innovation and creativity we should be striving for originality. I'll leave you with this:
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
