In our quick moving and fast-paced world, we like to be connected to everything. We like to see which of our friends are having babies, who is dating who, what your ex is up to, and everything in between. Well, thanks to social media we can see all this and more with the click of a button on a cellular device or anything really with internet capabilities, and transition from the normal people we were, to super sleuths instantly. The big three social media outlets I believe are most relevant in today’s world would have to be Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. With all three of these apps and services, you will never have to miss out on anything your friends, family, or even random strangers are doing, ever again! Yet, are these apps connecting us to the world or making us lose touch on everyday interactions and real-life moments?
Before I get to the rambling on of my own opinions and “fact of the matters” of social media, I will at least give it some credit where credit is due with some simple pros and cons. The pros are limited but make logical sense. Social media is the best way to see how loved ones are doing.
It can be your parents writing a nice post about their day on Facebook or maybe an old friend who posted a picture to Instagram and after not thinking or hearing of them in ages, evokes fun personal memories from years ago. Whatever the case may be, it's nice to see people we care about and know doing well and social media is a great source for that.
Social media also acts as a hub for us to see news and advertisements for things that interest us and are relevant to the world.
The cons list may be a bit longer and ranges from the injustices of cyberbullying to the addiction of a user to an app itself.
People can become easily addicted to social media and it acts as a very good device for people to go to when bored, a distraction when busy, a way to avoid social situations, and a false sense of involvement.
Life is practically one big hodgepodge of social interactions and spontaneous moments that either affect us a little, a lot or not at all.
With our eyes and ears focused on a tiny 6-inch screen, it is a little bit harder to be noticing real-time moments and events, which can make your day or maybe impact your entire life without even noticing.
I personally hate my phone and am on a very limited data plan, which results in me never using it very often in public, especially without the presence of WIFI.
My disdain for my phone and lack of data usage leads me to make observations such as:
- Way too many people walk with their heads down looking at their phone. On multiple occasions, I have seen some mild, downward head-on collisions in the hallways because of this.
- Poor guy in class will be trying to make conversation with a cute blonde girl he sits next to, she pays him no mind and is entranced by her Instagram feed.
- Don’t even get me started about drivers on their phones.
- Oh man, that couple at the next table isn’t even making words. Just on their own phones. You gotta love millennial romance.
