Texting and social media has become a major issue for teenagers and the generations to come. Several individuals can not hold a conversation or introduce themselves to the stranger next to them in class because they are too busy pretending to text or scrolling through Instagram. On Social Media some people act differently than they do in real life, for instance some girls comment on there acquaintances photo on Instagram but barely talk to them in person, let alone compliment there outfits in person.
Some girls and guys also use quotes to explain there pictures, I understand if you relate to the quote you borrow, but you guys are stealing someone else's words. That isn't what you would say using your own words and feelings. Would you go up to your lover or best friend in person and tell them "Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest, it is about who came, and never left your side...?" I don't think so. At least, I wouldn't. If we would stop trying to put captions of what we think is "cute" or "what would get more likes" we would act like we do in real life online.
Instead people should put a quote from there favorite memory of a conversation they had with there friends, or state how much fun you had or how you actually feel about the person in your picture. The worse part about acting differently online than in real life is taking pictures with strangers or people that are your friends friend and calling them your best friend the next day. Only so you can show people you have another "friend."
Some people even ask strangers to take a picture with them so they can show there friends they met a "hot guy/girl" on vacation. When in real life you looked like a creeper, asked for a picture, and made up lies about how you guys hung out on vacation. Instagram is just the beginning of examples of how people act differently online than in real life.
Twitter is another influence. On twitter people tweet song lyrics, sub-tweet people they do not like or can not confront in person, some people argue and go back and forth on twitter but would never argue like that in person, some people are rude to there friends on twitter then are best-friends the next day.
The majority of teenagers act differently than they do in real life because they are trying to be "cool" or get the most favorites, likes, or re-tweets so they do not act like themselves. Social Media should not be based off of popularity it should be based off what you want to post, what you want to say, and what you are doing.
Do not just post something because you want it to be the top post of the week or best quote out of all your friends pictures. If you act differently online than you do in person, start to act like you do in real life on social media. BE YOURSELF online and in real life, I promise people will like you for who you really are even if it is cheesy captions or a tweet that only gets five favorites, who cares?!
