Social media is almost entirely unavoidable. Whether you are required to use social media for a school or work related event or platform, or just for communication, almost every one in today's world is involved in social media in some shape or form. With more and more social media platforms at our finger tips due to new apps being released on a daily basis, many people feel the need to have the latest and greatest. But do we know when to say no? Consider these things before deciding to download the new app you just heard about...
With more social media comes more distraction and addiction
It is undeniable that social media is a huge distraction during day to day life. Many people, including myself, find it hard to put down the phone or computer to study, read, or even eat dinner with family and friends. More social media in our lives will only worsen this. Having the ability to identify the distraction in your life allows you to have the control over the very thing hindering your success. Not only is social media a distraction, but it is also becoming a very common addiction. Just like one wouldn't feed a drug or alcohol addiction with more of the problem, we shouldn't be feeding our social media addiction with more social media. Even if you don't consider yourself social media addicted, it is easy to become that way. Use caution with your time spent in front of a screen.
With more social media comes less face to face communication
The more we rely on our screens for communication, the less ease we find in face to face communication. Many studies have shown that people between the ages of 18 and 25 who use many social media platforms have an increased difficulty of communicating in person than individuals who don't use social media or those who use less. Technology and social media is destroying interpersonal communication in our generation. We have to fight this epidemic with everything we have, including our power to not become a statistic.
With more social media comes less emotional connection
Relationships and friendships are much different in today's age than they were ten or fifteen years ago. With most communication taking place through a phone rather than in person, an emotional disconnect is more likely to take place. There's just something about meeting someone new, whether a friend or potential love interest, and actually having a real, first conversation in person. More social media in our already social media laden lives is only going to fuel the lack of emotional connection in our relationships and friendships. Not to mention, if we actually put our phones or computers down in a public setting, there's always a potential to meet someone new in person.
As Jay Baer says, let's "focus on how to be social, not how to do social." So think twice before downloading that new app and think about the repercussions too much social media can have on ourselves and those around us.
