A few weeks ago, my best friend and I saw one of our favorite bands play their first show at Madison Square Garden. A monumental occasion for the musicians and fans alike, we sat on the floor of “the world’s most famous arena” surrounded by thousands of screaming fans. The atmosphere was one-of-a-kind.
A spunky teenager with a curly mop of hair sat next to me taking videos of the crowd before posting them on Snapchat. Her sister was taking a selfie with the stage behind her.
“Everyone is going to be so jealous of how close we are,” my new neighbor said while typing away on her iPhone 6.
“My picture is going to get so. many. likes,” her sister said without skipping a beat. She hit the share button on Instagram to upload the photo she had just taken.
A few moments later, the house lights dimmed and the first chords of the band’s opening song filled the air. The girls to my right, as well as most of those around me, brought their phones mere inches from their faces, their thumbs hitting the camera button at lightning speeds while the band took the stage.
They would stay like this for the rest of the concert.
It seems as though we live in a time where people feel the need to make their lives look as glamorous, fun and exciting as possible to others. Millennials today base their popularity, and often times their self-worth, on the likes, comments and shares they receive on social media.
It’s no wonder why everyone has a phone in their hands trying to capture the best possible angle.
But there are times when, much like at the concert I went to, it’s more enjoyable to experience something without a phone in front of you. You can take everything in -- sights, sounds, feelings -- without documenting it for later. Sometimes it’s better to just live in the moment.
When I scroll through Instagram, I never know what I am going to see. A perfectly plated pasta dish. A girl posing in a dress that looks like it’s made out of a napkin and dental floss. A serene sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. A group of guys with their shirts off playing beer pong. Dogs. So many dogs.
The possibilities are endless.
But what if we were to put our phones down, if only for a few minutes, to enjoy what’s going on around us? What would happen if we appreciated the moment for ourselves instead of trying to capture it for everyone else?
I will be the first to admit that a fruity drink and a night out with friends is a good enough reason for me to post a picture on Instagram or Snapchat. But when it comes down to it, do most people care if you went to a baseball game or got your nails done?
I don’t think so.
Social media has become a place for people to post the best aspects of their lives, and in theory, everyone is just trying to out-do each other.
A night out dancing at a rooftop bar. A new tattoo added to your sleeve. Yet another picture of you and your significant other at some expensive restaurant. The selfie at your new job. Your Spring Break getaway.
Can we as a society actually go anywhere, eat anything, see anything without making sure everyone else knows we’re doing so?
I have no idea.
Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Snapchat. Maybe capturing the moment is doing us more harm than good.
Sure, pictures last longer. But you can’t validate your life through a camera lens. You might miss out on a life experience and some incredible memories -- something far more valuable than a few likes on a photo.
