Social media is almost like a disease, it spreads and spreads and takes over people until it seems to define them, to control them, and to lessen their quality of life. What I mean by it "lessening their quality of life" is that the response one gets to their posts on social media can dictate their happiness. A negative response thus elicits a negative emotion in that person. To use social media is key, rather than letting it use you. If you are obsessively checking your Instagram to see if you’ve gotten any new likes and feel down when none appear, you are letting it control you. That kind of behavior is what I believe we should try to avoid. I’ve been there. I know how addictive social media can be. I know the "thrill" of reaching your highest number of likes or retweets or whatnot, but you can’t be hyper-focused on such meaningless statistics. A like takes what, one millisecond of tapping on a computer or phone? And then your post is scrolled by and forgotten. So why is it such a big deal? Post for you. Post because you love the picture, and still love it even if only a few other have taken that minuscule amount of time to like it too. If used properly, social media can be a useful and fun tool, a mechanism for preserving memories and special moments that fill you with joy.

The best thing to do is to not take anything unfavorable that occurs via the plethora of social media platforms to heart. Refrain from thinking oh, I must be ugly because my photo got no likes, or wow, I thought I was funny, but no one else seems to think so, I guess I should stop trying to make jokes. Use social media to spread positivity and to receive positivity as well. If it is simply bogging you down in self-doubt and criticism then maybe it isn't the greatest place for you. Perhaps you need a little social media detox to clear your head and remind yourself what's really important in life, life, meaning time among the living.

Then there is the ultimate problem: is it possible to be a part of social media and take tons of videos/photos and still enjoy the present as a living human spending time with other living humans? I think yes. You can take those Instagram pictures and Snapchat stories and still live in the moment, as long as you find the proper balance. Nowadays you go to any event—concert, wedding, party, etc.—and every phone will be up. I can’t even imagine what life was like before cell phones and social media. We have a reliance on technology that is so ubiquitous and constant that it’s a little frightening. What I try to do, to make sure I am capturing moments to look at weeks or years later while still maintaining my presence in the actual event, is snap a few quick photos and then put my phone away for the duration of the event (or at least most of whatever event I am attending). I am that friend who always pushes for a photo at dinner, but I am the same friend who urges everyone to then stow their phones so we can chat face to face, in real time, not caring about the latest statuses on Facebook. Balance. Balance is the answer.

In the end, you should do whatever makes you happy, but if you are like me, constantly conflicted as to whether or not to video the song at a concert or just watch it and sing along, I say, do both. Video a couple of your favorite songs and then stick your phone in your pocket during others. That way, you get the best of both worlds. You have the memory on tape to show your friends and you have the memory in your head of living of truly experiencing the "now," and breathing in the music, the energy, and the excitement that makes things like concerts so incredible.

So yes, social media can be like a disease, but it doesn't have to consume you. Look up to see the world, then look down when you want to chronicle your adventures. The most important thing to remember is: always look back up.