Recently, in the wake of tragedy I have paid closer attention to how people use social media. Most social media platforms did not really become popular until I was in middle and high school, but I still feel like they've been a large part of my life. I have made friends through the internet and it's been a primary source for news in many situations. However, I have noticed recently that social media is playing too large a role in people's lives and it is changing the way in which we interact with each other. The most recent examples of this that I have noticed have been through celebrities and well-known figures.

My first example of how social media has changed the way we act and destroyed any manners we had is with the recent break-up between Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris. Couples split up all the time and I do understand that as a celebrity everything you do is going to be scrutinized by the public, but I don't think that gives you the right to act like a middle-schooler. The two celebrities unfollowed each other on social media and removed any evidence of their relationship (even if a picture was not of the two of them). Calvin had originally tweeted a message saying that although the relationship ended, there was still a lot of respect between the two. However, with the release of paparazzi photographs of Taylor Swift and a potential new beau, he deleted the first tweet and tweeted "Oh boy it's about to go down." The tweet was later deleted, but after watching all of this occur I couldn't help but be disappointed in the celebrities. The social media pages of celebrities were once a way to connect with them and get a glimpse into their lives, but now it has become just as uncensored as everyone's social media. It baffles me that people will behave and say things online that they will never do or say in person. I remember the many lectures that I had during my middle school and high school years about cyber-bullying and being someone different over the computer. It is perhaps time to give the same lesson to every age group.

My second moment of disappointment in social media came after the horrific shooting in Orlando. Presidential candidate, Donald Trump tweeted out a message which was practically an "I told you so" abut the shooting. Anyone who has watched even a minute of Trump's speeches would not be surprised by this, but it is disappointing nonetheless. Briefly before this Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump got into an argument via twitter. It continues to amaze and scare me that grown adults are even fighting over a social media platform.

Social Media can be a great way to connect with others and can be a platform for you to voice your ideas and opinions. However, when we take advantage of the security of hiding behind a computer, we open ourselves up to a dangerous new way of communication. Putting out comments and messages without owning up to them can lead to acting in a way that you would never be proud of in reality. Although we may sometimes feel comfortable hiding behind a screen, the truth is that the internet and social media is reality. The things we say and do on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others can and do have an impact in the real world. It's easy to get sucked into a culture of "subtweeting," but we need to begin to hold ourselves accountable for our actions at the keyboard and in our day to day lives.