Social media has become a powerhouse of determining who you are, how important you are (or not), and gives self-worth. Welcome to the 21st century. But social media does not have to remain so powerful. We follow those we like, we retweet, we share, we repost, we double-tap the photos. Employers look at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to find more information out about the person--whether or not they should be hired. It is a shame that so many people find their worth in how many likes or followers they have. It is also no wonder that so many people suffer from depression or anxiety.
We, humans, place our worth in worthless things. Instead of caring about those who matter and love us, we care about those who do not like us and what they say about us. Newsflash, not everyone will like you, because they just won't. Does not matter what you did or did not do, it simply has become the way of society. Jealous, envy, differences, selfishness, arrogance; all these things separate and they are seen on social media. Social media is not bad entirely, it is the minds behind it. If we stopped caring so much about those who do not care for us, we would find ourselves in a much more content world. Regardless of the likes and followers and retweets, another factor in media can be harmful: comparison.
The majority of people partake in comparing, and it is very easily to engage your mind in it. I often do it without noticing. I see a pretty girl with a great selfie and I automatically jump to the conclusion that they are what I want to look like. They look happy, pretty, and are living the life. In those moments while scrolling through the feed, I forget that I have been gifted with different characteristics and different talents. There could be someone out there looking at my posts and thinking the same things.
Each person has a unique set of skills that have been given to them and they are equally as important, even if society puts others ahead of them. We should praise each other's successes and gladly put others up. Your followers do not determine how many people like you. Your likes on your photo do not determine your beauty. Your retweets do not determine how cool you are. Your Facebook friends don't determine how many real friends you have.
Social media has become far too powerful and we forget that we are not the result of our social media accounts. We have more to offer and we are so much more than we think. When we place our worth in others hands, we are never going to be in control of our happiness. And our happiness should not come from others, but what we belive of ourselves.
