Although it was an impulsive decision, deleting my Twitter was a beneficial decision. I had it since I was a young teenager, and sometimes you don’t realize how little value something provides to your life until you snap out of it. It becomes part of the routine, and before you know it, you’re in what I like to call zombie mode. This is when we get accustomed to doing things without questioning why they’re a part of our lives in the first place. The pros very well may outweigh the cons, but assessing is the important piece. When I pressed the red ‘Deactivate’ button, it felt like being on Level 1 of Super Mario Bros. where if Mario or Luigi run into enemies, they then fall out of the clear blue sky. Game Over, Man Down, back to 2010.
There are positives and negatives to social media use. Families are just a login away from being able to have updates on both minor and major life events. I have found some talented cosmetologists, thanks to marketing techniques. It also sparks creativity and new ideas, critical for innovation. Nevertheless, heavy social media use is also associated with declining mental health due to factors such as depression, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. Misinformation is spread; opinions are formed without even knowing the state of affairs. There’s a lack of privacy, and even worse, false ideals. I would encourage everyone, even if it’s just for a few days, to refrain from social media as a test to see how your mental clarity is impacted. It forced me to be more presently focused and has made me question the purpose of several of my other common habits.
I often compare the way of life now to how it was when I was younger. We are spending less time socializing in person than we used to, and that scares the living daylights out of me. I’ve been in several situations where even being face-to-face was dull and pointless because of heavy social media use. An aspect of this that isn’t talked about enough is how comfortable we are recording strangers completing normal daily tasks for temporary entertainment. It’s like we’re losing sight of what’s real and important, which is genuine human connection. Not only are we socializing less in person, but the times that we are, are more performative. When’s the last time you’ve invited a friend over with no agenda items, just for the simplicity of spending quality time together?
With us spending less time face-to-face, I assume that bartering is becoming less common. I remember growing up, my parents had a support system centered around it. They had friends who we took turns carpooling with. If someone came over to help mount a TV then my parents would help them with a technical issue. Give & take. “I need new furniture. Who did you go with?” Word of mouth was the source of truth back then, and this was due to in-person socializing. These folks weren’t just allies; they were friends. My goal is for us to get back to this place as a unit. I think we’re losing some of the sauce guys. I can’t lie. And the question is at what cost?
Reflection Points:
- I asked a few questions throughout this post, so what are your thoughts?
- How attentive are you on an average day, enjoying the moment for what it is?
- What changes have you noticed with the rise of social media?