"Social media will be the death of us."
My mom has always had a way with words.
In a generation of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and what seems to be dozens of other platforms for sharing the intimate details of our lives, something has to be said for the actual reality of this social media craze taking over our youth.
Think about this: when was the last time you went to dinner with a friend, family, or a significant other, and didn't spend 5 minutes trying to take the perfect snapchat, so people would know you have a social life? When was the last time you actually got asked on a date in person, rather than through your DM's, because you both "swiped right"? When was the last time you didn't seek acceptance in the form of likes, follows, or retweets?
The issue with social media is that we seem to rely on it for everything; communication, news stories, and even dating. It's become so familiar to us that we seem to have strayed from what really matters in this ever changing world. We seem to live behind a phone screen rather than sitting back and really appreciating all that life has to offer us.
Our generation is becoming less involved in political debates, and more involved in hating on Donald Trump through memes and Facebook shares. More interested in stamping a pink ribbon on their Twitter picture in October, rather than going out and participating in a fundraiser for cancer research. Wanting the world to know that you "care" and stating that "something needs to change" is a hell of a lot different than going out and actually doing something about it.
Hiding behind our phones and computers has become one of the biggest issues this decade has seen. Infidelity in relationships is at an all time high thanks to platforms like Tinder and AshleyMadison. Cyber bullying and anonymous forums (like ask.fm) have become one of the leading causes of teen suicide. Distracted driving was the number one cause of vehicle related deaths in 2014. All of these issues link back with one familiar basis: social media.
So what can we do? Put your phone down for a day (#GoDark). See how much it changes your perspective. This may seem much easier said than done, and it probably is. But think realistically: will the Twitter-shpere really be upset if you don't tweet about the Kardashians for a day? Will the world stop turning if you log off of Instagram, or forget to like your BFF's most recent selfie?
Social media will still be there tomorrow, and for what will likely be years to come. Our life, on the other hand, could go by in the blink of an eye. Rather than seeing it through tiny little lens on your phones camera, see life from a different point of view; through your own two eyes.
