When I was younger, my favorite days were the ones where I'd spend all day outside playing games with the neighborhood kids that we'd just make up on the spot. On the hot summer days when sweat would drip down our faces, we'd go inside and cool off by eating popsicles until our belly's hurt. Even during the miserably cold winter when we couldn't feel our fingers we'd go inside and drink hot chocolate, losing count of how many marshmallows we put inside. I never had any days where I'd just sit inside on my couch all day and binge watch Netflix series, or I never spent hours on my phone checking social media every two seconds. Mostly because I didn’t even know Netflix existed when I was younger nor was social media really popular.
If you really think about it, all of this social media is the best and worst thing that could happen to us. It’s so easy to reconnect with your college friend you haven’t seen in 10+ years, but it’s also just as easy to find out that James cheated on Chloe with Kelly all thanks to scandalous tweet provided by Chloe. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is private anymore. Your location, who you were with two days ago, your family members, where you go to school… it’s all out there for everyone to see.
When did it become so popular to put your business or even worse other people’s business on social media? I know how entertaining it can be to read the Twitter fight between Gabby and Heather because Heather “can’t even trust her best friend now-a-days…smh” but come on people… confront each other in person. And helloooo, did everyone forget that people have feelings. Don’t think that hiding behind a screen gives you every right to say whatever you want to/about a person. It is not okay to let the world know that Regina George is a fugly slut. It will never be okay. Some people may find it hilarious, but that person might’ve had the worst possible day and who’s to say what might just send someone over the edge.
Thanks to social media, no one knows how to communicate in person anymore. Whether it’s behind a computer screen or a phone screen, everyone is so use to hiding behind it to have conversations. Go up to the girl you can’t keep your eyes off of at the club, or go sit next to the guy you're always finding yourself watching whenever he walks into class. Even though it’s 100 percent easier to slide right into the dms, just go up to them right then and there and strike up a conversation. If you embarrass yourself who cares. At least they’ll never forget the first conversation you had.
Don't let social media be your poison. There's no denying that without it we wouldn't be blessed with the world's greatest memes, but without it our kids wouldn't be bullied until the point of no return. Think before you post. Every once in a while go out an enjoy some fresh air, or get lost in the pages of book. I promise, the video of Dylan's third birthday will still be on Facebook whenever you check your phone hours from now.
