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Politics and Activism

4 Things I've Learned From Social Media

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

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4 Things I've Learned From Social Media

Being involved in social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you come to learn a lot about yourself and the world around you. Over the years, I've learned a couple of things about few things about different age groups, but mostly I've learned a lot about our generation.

1. We're Obsessed with Relationships.

Or maybe it just seems this way. But no matter what social media platform you go on, there will be endless accounts, popular or not, complaining about wanting a relationship, being in one, or just getting out of one. No matter what it is, it seems we're all so dependent on having a significant other that the thought of being alone is strange, whether we've been single our whole lives or are constantly in new relationships.

2. We're Spiteful and Petty.

And it's not always a bad thing, but for the most part it is. There are millions of posts on all social media platforms that state mean things about other people (vague or not), and they get extremely popular. People compare themselves to others, and over-use the "me vs. you" meme, and it all seems so petty. Why are we so intent on putting other people down? Why do we always feel the need to compare ourselves, to out do others? Why do we even care so much? Even if we don't exactly like someone, why do we think it's okay to be so spiteful and think we're so much better than them? Chances are we aren't.

3. We Know a Lot.

Because of social media, when news spreads, we can easily share it. It enables us to learn more about our world and what's going on it in. There are millions of people voicing their opinions about world events from all over the globe. Social media helps to enforce the intersectionality that a lot of people face in the world, and it helps to educate people about their experiences. It keeps us more aware than past generations, and more considerate about topics such as racism, sexism and LGBTQ rights.

4. We Can Easily Build Friendships.

Social media lets us connect with people all over the world. So, naturally, it's easy for our generation to create online friends. This is a huge benefit of social media and how we use it. We're able to learn new things about new areas and cultures. Social media allows us to connect over posts, and relatable content, which allows for more and easier friendships to build.

Social media may not always enforce the best personality traits among our generation, but it can definitely create some great ones. Our generation isn't perfect, but it's ours.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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