Generation Z was raised in a world of cell phones and evolving technology. The most unique factor of our generation is the rampant use of social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. We're constantly criticized by the older generations for not having sufficient people skills, or staring at a screen all day. However, when the technology world is all you know, how are you supposed to be able to imagine your life without it? Social media sites don't seem like they're going to disappear anytime soon, either. It raises the question of why we love them so much. It's pretty silly when you think about it. "Let me take this picture and post it to show everyone what I'm doing." For starters, probably no one even cares. Secondly, even if they do care, why do we feel it's necessary to have our lives on an app?
People don't go on a vacation or visit a national park because they genuinely want to do it. They do it so they can take a picture and post it. This is ironic due to the fact that when you are spending time with your friends or out to eat, you're all on your phones instead of talking to each other. You would rather post a picture acting like you were having a great time instead of just having a great time. Sounds logical.
People obsess over how their Instagram "looks" and are constantly thinking in their head what their next post is going to be. God forbid you look nice at a party and don't post a picture to prove it. This obsession with one's appearance on social media has made us so vain. We scroll through someone's posts and create a whole persona as if we actually know them because of a few tweets or photos. We already know if we like them or not, too. A person's intelligence or amicability doesn't seem to have much importance anymore. If you're showing your ass in a few pictures on Instagram, guys want to date you. Nothing is a secret anymore - your body, lifestyle or love life.
When it comes to dating, it's the end of the world if your significant other doesn't post a "mcm" or "wcw" photo of you. If they don't frequently post with you or want to take pictures in general, it's a problem. Couples post pictures portraying themselves as so happy, but you don't really know what's going on in their relationship. The person could be cheating on you, but if they posted a picture telling the world how much they love you, then it's fine. "Likes" are people's No. 1 pleasure. This false sense of appreciation from people on the Internet is not something a person should strive for.
People wind up comparing themselves with the accounts they look at. We think we have to look a certain way, or act a certain way. Self esteem is driven down by clicking on an app and looking at people who tried for hours to take that photo.This makes absolutely no sense, especially due to the fact that someone's life is so much more than an Instagram or Twitter account.
We get all of our information from social media instead of just reading the news. Uncle John's biased opinion on Donald Trump is read by you before you click on The New York Times to actually be informed about what Trump is running on. Facebook has a plethora of opinions by people on every possible end of the spectrum. However, are these people really doing anything about their opinion? Posting a status for your colleagues and family members to see isn't changing anything in the world. It might just lose you Facebook friends. The slacktivism that social media creates is making us stupid. Literally, we are too worried looking at what our friends are doing to read the news. We just so happen to scroll through a couple political posts while looking at frat party pictures, so we think we're informed.
Social media does have positive aspects when it comes to marketing and sharing ideas. I'm not saying that I'm not susceptible to the downsides of social media, either. However, I have become more aware of the effects it has and try to prevent it from controlling my life. It's more enjoyable to go to a party and actually engage than it is to take pictures just so you can look at them the next day.
