We are lucky to live in a generation where our thoughts and dreams can be published with the entire world in seconds. We can find kindred spirits and learn about others that live across the planet. Being in college during this internet explosion has given me countless opportunities to see the beauty and the savagery that come with such global contact. There are some things that I want to share with my fellow millennials that continue to disappoint me in the hopes that maybe, once they see what social media has done to our generation, they can realize that maybe the freedom of expression they thought they were exercising is in fact just a more modern form of empathy.
One thing that I have noticed is that there are a whole lot of people out there willing to talk a whole lot of smack, but aren't willing to do a single thing about it. This can be seen on scales as big as national politics, to as small as campus relations. It is far easier to post a 1,000 word Facebook blowup than it is to show your face and express your views in person in front of your peers. It is far easier to tear down a process that you have made no effort to understand than it is to investigate it and attack it critically. We live in a generation of with a chip on its shoulder. We constantly assume that hardship is personal because as a rule we have not had to deal with real loss during our time. There is a reason our grandparents always remind us of what we have. My challenge to the trolls of the internet is this: take the time from your Netflix binging to investigate an issue before you take the easy road of Facebook/Twitter etc. If attention is what you seek use a shallow social media blast. If you want real change, I dare you to shake the person's hand and meet with those who you think are responsible.
Another interesting wrinkle that social media has added to our time is its effect on elections. I know for a fact that I cannot go on any site without seeing something about one candidate or another. This is America and freedom of speech is our right. Beating others senseless with said opinion is not a right. I know a lot of people see social media as a way to express who they are and what they believe, but other people use it to share cute cat videos or keep in touch with their great aunt. Know your audience and if you have real courage use outlets made for such expression to get real feedback rather than meaningless likes and shallow comments. Furthermore, if you post it someone is bound to disagree. If you don't realize the potential for negative feedback you're an idiot. If all you are looking for is negative attention you are also an idiot. Use social media as the beautiful gathering place that it is, not as a place to fulfill some shallow need to be seen. My final note on elections and social media is this: If you are over the age of 18 and are not registered to vote/vote in elections YOUR OPINION IS MEANINGLESS. If you don't act on the opinions you post by voting aka the right others died for you to have, you might as well be talking to a wall.
This other point definitely applies to people of all ages and all generations. Social media is a great place to post updates on your life so that those around you can keep up and support you. It can quickly become a place for gloating and extreme pride. Don't let it. Things like adopting a baby, getting married, or moving are all good things to post about because it makes people feel included and informed. Posting a gallery of photos surrounding accomplishment after accomplishment big and small can quickly shatter the intimacy that you were trying to establish with those you care about. Let alone if you post all those galleries of pictures with a quote about humility. Don't even get me started on the misuse of the word, "humble". Be aware of what you post. It is easy to remember what you have shared with the world and to keep track of just how much space you are taking up on news feeds. This goes out to parents too! Just because you are older doesn't means you don't reach as many people as often as you post. Know when you are blessed with an abundance of accomplishments and find the peace and strength of character to keep from blowing up people's lives with every detail.
I guess what I want young people reading this to feel is a sense of purpose to break the mold that has been formed around our generation. That it is a generation of apathy and yelling from far distances. Go out into the world and do the scary thing: express your opinions, your hopes, your dreams to people that share the same interest. And if you're really bold share it with people who don't. Go and take real action because I guarantee you that such actions will give you way more satisfaction than hitting enter at the end of your status.
