I'll be one of the first people to say that there are a lot of negative consequences to social media and that it's destroying our generation. However, there's one thing that really bothers me and it's when people tell me I Snapchat too much. I personally think Snapchat is the best form of social media. I know some of you just read that and completely disagree, but hear me out.
People say that Milennials spend too much time on our phones and social media. We're too focused on our phones and not what's going on in the world around us. Sure, this is very true. We're consumed by social media, and I'll admit whole heartedly that I'm a social media addict. People have told me I Snapchat too much and that I should just enjoy the moment instead of trying to capture everything on Snapchat.
What's so different about Snapchat and taking pictures on a camera? People don't usually criticize others for taking photos on a camera, but if they see you have Snapchat open, they're quick to judge. I love Snapchat because it's a great way to see what other people are doing. Some people might say, "I could care less about what other people are doing." Well, that's great that you're self-absorbed, but I love seeing what's going on in other people's lives. If you don't get the chance to talk to someone every day, it's always nice to see what they're up to and Snapchat is a quick and easy way of doing that. And that might be impersonal, but it's a cool way to learn more about someone you might be acquaintances with in real life and friends with on Snapchat.
Another thing is that Snapchat is a great way to capture some of your favorite moments. I use Snapchat like a camera. I take a picture on my Snapchat, post it and save it to my phone. I also love taking the short, 10 second videos and saving them to my phone. I love that I can capture moments of my life and instantly share them with all of my friends. Some people might find my excessive Snapchat posting annoying, but I absolutely love sharing moments from my crazy, hilarious and awkward life.
Just because someone Snapchats a lot, does not mean they aren't enjoying the moments they're capturing. Think about it: a Snapchat is taken in a matter of seconds, and it doesn't take that much longer to post it. If a person is taking a few seconds to post on Snapchat, it doesn't take away from anything they'r'e experiencing. I've seen beautiful sunsets and posted them on Snapchat, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the sunset. I saw something beautiful and wanted others to see it too. A lot of times when I'm posting, it's because something amazing or funny happened, or I'm just having a great time, and I want others to enjoy it along with me.
I promise you, I really do take the time to live in the moment and enjoy what I'm doing. I might post a lot on Snapchat, but I don't let it take away from my experiences. I don't sit on my phone, with Snapchat open 24/7, just waiting for the next great thing to happen. I enjoy myself and if something happens and I find it interesting, then I'll probably take out my phone and Snapchat a picture or video of it. I know my Snapchatting might be annoying, but try to enjoy it. These are some of my favorite moments captured with some amazing people, and I love sharing these moments with all of you.
