Social media platforms.

Why have I fallen into the chaos and hype of social media? I admit to having a tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, and other websites and applications that enables me, as a user, to create and share content or to participate in social networking. Recently I have been faced with a situation as to why I care so much if my "friends" give me a like or a comment. Why do I find myself hoping that the ones I love show me "love" publicly online, when they do it so often in person?

I use the social platform not only as a form of procrastination, but also vainly use it as a form to "boost ones ego" per say. I know I don't get hundreds of likes or comments, nor am I anywhere near to being socially famous on any standards, but I do want to see and even expect to see certain people pop up in my notification news feed.

I am struggling to understand how I've let this idea of social media base the strengths of the relationships I have in real life. A lot of my friends and family are on social media, and use it actively like 80% of U.S. Americans today. I no longer use it as a way of communicating with friends over seas, or even in a different state, or to see pictures and share with my family out of state. My social media has been flooded with people talking about their relationships ("relationship goals" or talking about how they'll be forever alone with cats), food recipes (which I don't have time or money to do), Makeup, and best of all MEMES. You post that really good selfie or picture and count the likes. You post your accomplishments and see the floods of comments congratulating you. You post the TBH because you just like everyone who ask for one likes to hear about themselves. Social media is and will continue to be the most important and influential platform for Millennials and generations to come, as it improves and grows.

I'm not saying that the social media platform is all bad because I do get to keep up with people in my life that I can't easily get together with and catch up. I see pictures of the new born baby, the graduation photos from friends, and also hear about tragidies, not only personal to me, but from all over the world. I have forgoten the beauty behind social media, and covered it up with the vanity, and obssesion to get a like or a comment form people right beside me.

So, after this self reflection I have come with a proposition to stop living through social media as much, and to spend more of my life focusing on the real world in front of me and not on a screen. I challenge you, the reader, to reflect why you are on social media, what do you use it for, and to spend more of your life living.