Hey, guys – welcome back to TNTH!
Remember the good ole days when you either had to call your friends on the house phone to have a conversation or wait to get on the computer to go on AIM and talk to your friends like that? Remember when MySpace was really the only popular social media platform people were on, and even then they weren’t on it every minute of their lives? Honestly, I miss those days. I miss the days where people were sorta on the internet on their spare time, yet knew when to sign off and engage with the world. Cellphones weren’t as advanced as they are now, and sending text messages cost you if you didn’t have a contract. Nowadays, people are glued to their phones, the million different social media apps, and are hooked to the point where there is an actual disorder in the DSM-5 to categorize those who literally can’t live without their phones.
Like, when did we become like this, and is this the way we want to live our lives?
Social media is a disease, and I didn’t realize it was until just recently. I can’t lie, I loved my social media accounts; I was creative when taking selfies, I was carefree and comedic on my Snapchat, I was able to write how I felt on Twitter, and I was able to share my TNTH posts on Facebook! Social media isn’t a bad idea, and quite frankly it’s not social media’s fault; it’s ours. We abuse the fuck out of social media. We abuse it, these platforms try to compete with one another to stay on top of the game, and we’re left with four different platforms that started off to be different things now all being able to live-stream whenever the fuck we want.
Still not convinced to break up with your social media? Here are five reasons why you should:
- You’re losing time in your life that you aren’t going to get back. Instead of sitting there on your phone while you’re at a party, family gathering, or a concert, enjoy those moments while you can. The concert will end in 4 hours, the family gathering will come to an end at the end of the day, and the party ends once the weekend ends. If you want to take a couple of pictures to cherish the moment, then do just that, but make sure you spend time with those around you in the present. All that editing and Facetune for the gram can wait when you’re back home, in bed, in your pajamas.
- While social media is all about being “social”, it actually takes away the social ability you have in your life, especially those who are introverted. If you’re one of those people who think being an introvert is cool and trendy, then, by all means, stay in your little bubble and talk to your friends who you haven’t seen in months via iMessage. As we get older, it is already hard to keep in touch with friends and see them because life gets in the way, but by strictly only talking to them online is limiting the friendship you have with that person. Eventually, the constant Facebook conversations stop, the Instagram likes and comments stop, and your friend is just another follower passively checking up on you through your posts.
- Social media just isn’t what it used to be. Social media was created to keep in touch with people in your life that you lost contact with over the years, but social media now is just a competition of who looks better and who has the bigger following. No matter how much you want to say certain celebrities became successful for their hard work, many of these people became famous because they either look good on Instagram or sold their souls to the advertisement devils. I mean, how many of your favorite celebs are posting pictures on Instagram that are sponsored? Telling you to buy this and buy that because it’s amazing and awesome? Social media is a business now, and that’s not what it should’ve turned into.
- Referring to my previous point, social media is like a funhouse mirror; it depicts this absurd image of people when in reality, people’s lives are not always like that. No, Susan isn’t always wearing expensive heels and dresses when she goes out, No, Jeremy doesn’t live in the gym and drink protein shakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and No, Liz doesn’t always smile and skip down the streets being the happiest girl in the world without no problems whatsoever. At the end of the day, people are going to show you what they want to show you, and that image is always going to seem perfect. People on social media are simply simulacrums, which I highly request you look up to understand where I’m getting at. Social media is just this unofficial competition that you didn’t sign up for.
- Lastly, your life isn’t yours when you decide to showcase it on social media. Once you share something, people who don’t give two shits about you know where you are in life. People who wouldn’t bat an eye for you now know where you’ve been and how you’re doing. It’s already bad enough many of these social media platforms are caring less and less about your privacy these days; anyone can find you and access your information in the blink of an eye. That alone should be very concerning to you. Your life and your privacy should be yours. Once you let go of that constant status updating phase in your life, you’ll start to feel more in tune with yourself. You’ll start to realize all of the work that has yet to be done. You’ll see just how more aware you are of yourself. Honestly, your social media persona doesn’t compare to the real deal.
Of course, I’m not saying to completely ditch your platforms if you can’t. I understand if your social media platforms help you reach out to your audience on your creative projects. Just know when to turn it off for some quality time with yourself and those around you.
Enjoy life away from the screen for awhile.
*Post-note: I’ve written other posts like this in the past, so if you need more validation on why you should break up with social media, here are some.
-Liz. (:
Letters From Liz. 