One of the great advantages of social media is keeping up with people. With a few clicks of a couple keys, you can tell your cousin overseas that you love them in an e-mail, or message your high school best friend that you haven't seen since graduation.
It's really unbelievable what technology can do, but there are some serious downfalls to this as well. Although not every article on Facebook or Vine on Twitter is political in nature or controversial, a lot of them are. I'm all for standing up for what you believe in, but at the cost of what? Using your words wisely and considering how they are going to affect other people is not something that I see a whole lot of on social media. This needs to change. I've never heard of a hateful, controversial debate via social media changing a law or swaying the government.
1. You can't take it back, ever.
In person, you have time to think, gather your words...but via the internet, once your hands get typing, sometimes there's no stopping you. And before you know it, you've posted something online that you really didn't mean, and you can't ever take it back. Sure, you can delete it, maybe even before someone sees it, but there will always be a record of it somewhere.
2. You are behind a screen, not looking someone in the eye
It is so much easier to say, "I hate you," or "you suck," when you are hiding behind a computer screen than if you are looking someone in the eye. Debates and confrontation using social media is almost like a comparison of who can come up with the wittiest comebacks and get the most likes on that comment, instead of who is using the most logic or making the most sense.
3. You are creating a brand for yourself
Think of your social media accounts of a commercial advertising you. Is everything that you have on those profiles something you'd be okay with the whole world seeing? Because they basically can. Your future bosses, future spouses, future children...is what you post really what you want to brand yourself as? Think before you share those controversial articles or before you retweet something that someone could find offensive.
4. Is it really worth it? Offending people?
Having your own opinion is great, it is what makes you, you. But think about all the people that you love and adore in your life, I'm sure a lot of them have a different opinion than you do. Of course, the only way change happens is if someone takes a stand, I get it. But you can take a stand without forcing your opinions down others throats or making people who have a different opinion feel stupid.
5. We all feel and are passionate, that's what makes us human
There are certain soft spots that we all have. Maybe yours are fighting for the LGBT community and their rights. Maybe yours are fighting for less gun control. Or Maybe you aren't passionate about anything political, you just want people to be able to do what they want as long as it isn't hurting another human. Regardless, we are all humans and these feelings are exactly what makes us who we are. And that is great. But, that passion and fight that you feel inside, doesn't constantly have to come alive on your every social media page.
If we are going to make this world a better place, let's start by loving one another and putting others before ourselves. So think twice before you share that article that you know would offend your grandmother. Otherwise, before you know it, your social media accounts are going to turn into nothing more than a place for outrageous and violent debates between all of your friends about what is right and what is wrong....and for the outcome of what? Because let's face it, as much as we wish our petty arguments could change something, they probably won't. So let's stop arguing about what is morally right and wrong. Let's start loving everyone instead. Change starts with an action, I don't think arguing on a heavily shared Facebook article counts as an action.
So before you share the next article, think about how you are going to word your opinion. Let's create positive change and move forward, not backwards.
