Despite my friends’ peer pressure, I avoided getting a Snapchat until a few weeks into college.
I’d always avoided Snapchat, primarily because selfies annoy me but, secondly because I hated the idea of having another social media account that I’d feel tied down to. For every social media account you have, you have this obligation to update it, post photos, and generally make your life look as interesting as possible.
Social media -- and a cellphone obsession in general -- is my biggest pet peeve.
People often use social media excessively and for the wrong reasons. When I make these observations, I don’t mean to put myself above any of these actions.
Of course, I’ve done my fair share of all. I know that social media can be extremely useful. For example, Facebook is almost a necessity in college because it’s the main source for finding out about events and anything else happening on campus. At the same time, social media gets used for wrong reasons as well.
Snapchat is the best example of this. No matter how boring an event is or how much fun you’re not having, it’s so simple to make it look like you’re having the time of your life. With the right angle, a few smiling friends, and good lighting, any event can look like a great time.
My question is, why bother?
Snapchat stories always seemed strange to me. Why capture a moment in a photo that disappears after 24 hours instead of living in the moment and remembering it forever?
These days, it seems like anytime anything exciting is happening, everyone’s first thought is to pull out their phones and put it on their Snapchat story. What happened to simply enjoying the moment?
I, myself, have felt the same pressure since getting a Snapchat. If a cool moment is happening, I feel this necessity to take my phone out and get it on video or capture a photo.
It’s almost as if I miss capturing the moment, then it will seem like my life isn’t as “exciting” because it wasn’t on Facebook/Snapchat/etc.
This constant need to capture moments on phones is another piece to this pet peeve.
When people are constantly worried about being on their phones to capture moments or tell people about moments they become so attached to their phone they completely miss what is going on around them.
For example, I can’t stand hanging out with people who are constantly on their phones. Even people that can’t simply get through a meal without texting/messaging are included in this. If you’re with someone, make it seem like you want to be there.
When someone is constantly on their phone worried about people that aren’t present, it comes off as them not wanting to be there or not caring about the people they’re with.
Be grateful for the people you’re surrounded by and don’t live your life through a screen, otherwise you’re missing out on an entire lively, exciting world around you.
Considering this article is being written for a site that relies on and requires writers to utilize social media to spread their work, this might seem ironic.
However, maybe that’s the bright side of social media -- it’s a quick and easy way to spread information and ideas as well as a way to connect with people you may not have connected with in the real world.
Living over 800 miles from my hometown, this year has shown me these benefits in social media because it’s made it easier to keep in touch with friends back home.
Keeping in mind that there are invaluable benefits to social media if used to a certain extent for certain reasons.
Therefore, perhaps tolerating the overuse/obsession with phones and social media is worth the benefits. Plus, a few embarrassing pictures of your friends doesn't hurt to have around.
