How Social Media Is Moving Faster Than We Are

“You’re only human, you’re going to make mistakes.”

Yeah, whatever. I personally have quite the attitude when it comes down to admitting I’m wrong. Actually, I’m the worst at it. No person likes to be told they are wrong and few of us take criticism well. Whether it’s in school and you missed a math problem, or you lied to your parents at the dinner table. Things happen, life happens, and you mess up.

The bottom line is, we all make choices. These choices reflect on us, and sometimes (most of the time) other people. We live in a day and age where if you make a big enough mistake and enough people capture it on their iPhones, you’ll go viral on a social media platform in hours. These mistakes aren’t just yours anymore to deal with. Now you get an opinion and so does everyone else. Social media can be a great thing when used correctly and kept clean of personal drama and mishaps.

“We’ve always had an opinion, it’s the First Amendment.” Right. Have we always had mass media so readily available? NO. This is the difference.

Being in a sorority means I've sat in on countless meetings on “What to post on social media!”, and “Don’t let the boss know!” Which were basically how to clean up your Facebook/Twitter of personal things that might turn away a potential employer. I really didn’t understand how anyone couldn't already know what we were being taught. I had already learned all the things they told me because my parents taught me self-worth and common sense at an early age.

Why does all of this common sense fly out the window with the progression of social media? I feel like media is moving forward at such a mind blowing rate, we don't even have time to set up social norms and etiquette around what's appropriate for everyone to see at the click of a button and what isn't.

What’s my point in all this? Don’t give someone anything to worry about. Don’t put ammo in the gun! Keep your personal life off Facebook, lest you want someone’s opinion on it. Trust me, they’ll give it to you... and it won't be pretty.