Yes Mom, I understand your no phones at the dinner table policy, but fear not, because my little handheld device is actually a portal into the wild wonders of the social media universe. People often critique Millennials for living behind our glowing glass screens and solely communicating with each other via technology, rather than face to face. However, people frequently fail to recognize the revolutionary nature of the social media beast and its new wave of communication. We have been bestowed with the cutting edge form of connection.
1. Heightened Level Exposure
As a news nerd, I love the fact that I can read instantaneous updates from a wide array of news sources on Twitter. By simply grazing my finger over the little blue square, my retinas are flooded with images of Trump’s expressive facial contortions alongside other pressing news matters. It’s incredible how I can access such a diverse wealth of information in the palm of my hand.
This whole concept of “trending” in an astoundingly transformative innovation that allows us to stay connected with the most pressing topics from politics to pop culture. Even hashtagging is brilliant. By simply typing a number sign before a brief word or phrase, the content is hyperlinked, allowing you to connect with people all over the world sharing the same thought. Being informed has become much more engaging because it’s an active relationship between a large collective of human beings joining the same conversation.
2. Living It With Them
Two of my best friends are currently living on different continents, but they haven’t escaped me because Facebook allows me to bombard them with ease. They can see my thrilling undertakings over here in Lewiston, Maine, while I get live updates of Bolivian mines and skydiving extravaganzas in New Zealand. All it takes is a few simple strokes on an iPhone screen to transport me to their exotic adventures.
3. A Creative Outlet That’s Accessible to Everyone
It’s pretty dope how we have technology that allows such a large part of the Earth’s population to generate their own creative material and broadcast it to the world. Talented people who wouldn’t have the opportunities to be discovered via traditional methods have a chance to be found (shout out to Justin Bieber). Who knows which tweet, video, or Odyssey article will be the next to go viral!
Also, each individual has a voice in the discovery process. If there’s a sick video that I think deserves some recognition, I have the ability to share it and maybe spark my friends’ interest in it too. We’re all active participants in the broader discussion.
4. Managing Your Personal Image
Social media helps us manage how we present ourselves to the world. These platforms provide us with a unique method to share our stories in a nuanced way that couldn't be achieved in person. Of course, internships and jobs are particularly pertinent to us college students, and we are fortunate enough to live in a an era where we can link potential employers with our whole portfolio of work. We have the ability to portray a visual depiction of ourselves in a social space. In the old world, all people had to show who they were was their resume and hopefully a few minutes of talking. However, with platforms like LinkedIn, people can display all of their experiences and accomplishments in a creative manner that is easily digested. Employers can immediately see testimonials of people who advocate for your skills. How awesome is that?!
