This is a response to Social Media Should Highlight Our Individuality, But It Makes Us Wish We Were More Like Someone Else.

I have a different perspective on this topic than most people, because I have a little bit of a following on social media. Also, I specialize in social media management for brands/sports teams. While I spend hours upon hours scrolling through social media like the regular person, I do see it through a different lens. With that being said, here are some of the takeaways I have from gaining a couple thousand followers on TikTok in the last couple of months, and my time as a social media manager.

I have heard the phrase, 'social media is the devil' from countless people since I started diving into the digital world. A lot of people see social media as selfish or feeding into the egoistical side of the younger generation. While I do not disagree with that statement, I do disagree with the fact that it is all negative. There have been a lot of valuable qualities that have come from the creation of your favorite social media platforms. We have seen wholesome moments caught on film and then distributed for the world to see. Especially in the sports world, like Stefon Diggs giving away a gift to a Bills fan who recently lost his father. Landon also known as 'Captain Kirk' getting to meet a lot of Vikings players because he went viral on the internet. There are so many people that have had opportunities come to fruition because it has garnered the attention of influential people on social media. Just like everything in this world, there are good things, but there are also bad things. That also applies to social media and the internet.

Now for the other shoe to drop, we have seen a lot of negative connotations with the digital age. Like the younger generation's attention span shrinking, the gratitude is nonexistent and everyone so involved with their social image instead of enjoying the little things. Social media and TikTok has taught people that it's okay to do whatever it takes to make it viral. Whether that be showing off a little more skin or doing dangerous stunts to get some views. I have fallen to this especially in the last couple of months. I have gone from being productive, motivated and goal oriented towards my career as a Sports Reporter. To spending all of my time on TikTok and being upset when every single one of my videos doesn't get 10,000 views. I am always thinking about what photos will do best on Instagram or what tweet will garner me more likes. That has changed my personality, especially when I have received more hate comments and people bashing how I look.

I tend to look at myself in the mirror now and think intrusive thoughts. I play the comparison game with different creators and videos. I look at Alex Earle and think about all that I am lacking in my life. THIS IS NOT HEALTHY AND THIS IS NOT OKAY. IF I A 25 YEAR OLD WOMEN IS THINKING THESE THOUGHTS THEN WHAT ABOUT YOUR 13 YEAR OLD. I wrote in all caps to highlight the importance of handling social media, especially with your younger family members.

Again, to round this out because it has seemed to dive into the negatives and that's not something I want to highlight. I have seen some beautiful moments through social media, and gained a lot of close internet friends that I would have never met in real life. It is also expanding the job market in a huge way. We are seeing jobs that did not exist 15 years ago like social media manager, digital content manager, content creator or influencer. There are people out there, who are making a living working in sports, for a brand, making TikTok's or being a content creator. This is a new digital era, that we need to be aware of, but also grateful for. I am grateful that social media has created these jobs, because I have finally found something that I am good at. I found a creative outlet that I can have fun with, but also be myself. People like me, who do not fit in the typical 9-5 job, can thrive on the internet. We can also get to do some of the craziest things in the world. Like go to the Frozen Four for men's hockey as a digital content manager, make TikTok's with NHL stars, get an all access pass to Hockey Day Minnesota for collecting content and be unclose and personal to people that I have idolized for a job!!!!

While social media has a ton of downsides and dangers. I implore you to think about all of the positives it brings into maybe not your life, but the next generation's lives. The good that social media can do and not just the bad. If we look at things in life through a negative lens, then what will our life become. I can give you an image; alone, bitter and angry. Now I ask you this, is that a life that is worth living?

My answer to that question is simple, NO!!!!