There's a reality that we need to face and it is that social media is becoming the go-to for insight and news - for at least the majority of America's youth.
So, I began a sort of mental experiment.
Who are the top five most followed people on Twitter? Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Barack Obama, Taylor Swift and Rihanna.
With all due respect for the drive and commitment it takes to excel as Bieber and T-Swift have - only one of the top five people on Twitter is a world leader. Only 1/5 of Twitter's most famous deems himself first and foremost an activist and one for the people - not just an entertainer. And that baffles me.
Maybe it's how we grew up. And, of course I say we because I too watched Disney and Nick daily and plastered posters of my favorite celebs all over my walls as a child. We grew up idolizing and obsessing over these people because they were good-looking, talented and funny. Not because of what they taught us or who they inspired us to be.
To speak frankly, this phase of our lives did not end the day each of us decided to grow up a little and occasionally pick up a paper, or flick on the nightly news. We may have tore down the posters, but when 36% of Twitter users are age 18 to 29 (pewinternet.org), and Katy Perry is the #1 most followed person, it is clear that the obsession still lingers.
You could even say that this issue grows worse with age in today's materialized world. Just as we end our days in the classroom - diving through history and reading morally defining literature - we begin what normally turns out to be day in and day out of mindless work.
And when we get home, it's straight to Netflix or scrolling down our superficial Twitter feeds.
I have to stress that this is not the case for everyone - but it does seem to be the case for many. I feel that anyone who cannot admit that is in sheer denial of the world we live in.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: When it comes to hypocrisy with this topic, guilty is charged. However, I'd like to think that it's something I can work on and overcome.
With a device holding all information known to man constantly at our finger tips, it's insane to think that we use it primarily to stalk super models and post pictures of our Panera mac and cheese.
It's easier now more than ever to be consistently learning and constantly growing. Yet, it seems that we're moving in the exact opposite direction, where we use our tools as toys and distractions.
We literally have the power to "follow" basically anyone... And who do we choose?
