SOCIAL MEDIA (CONS)
After Lagos on my love-hate relationship list most definitely comes social media. Inasmuch as I may make use of social media (passively or actively), I am not so much of a fan. By social media in this case, I’m referring to the popular networking apps like twitter and instagram and similar forums. Through my eyes, these form of media can be likened to coins with two faces on either side--a smiley face on one and a grim looking face on the other. Regardless how much I may not be in tune with the social media frenzy, it sure is turning into an integral part of our lives and I can’t deny that it has its fair share of good. I should get to the good in a subsequent post.
With the ‘goods’ of social media in mind, as well as the various ways people get to benefit from it, I can’t help but acknowledge the cons of social media:
I believe I did a post on this some while back (get to read it here). Social media and the media in general has its subtle way of suggesting things to our subconscious be it good or bad. You know how it’s often said that what you can’t picture, you can’t partake of? Social media constantly puts pictures of both right, wrong and wrong masquerading as right before our eyes. And then, at times the constant picture of these ‘wrongs as right’ before our eyes begin to make us accept them as “normal”.
Stemming from the aforementioned, this ("everyone is doing it" syndrome) is a syndrome that a couple get roped into. Some understand that social media folks show you what they would like for you to see but not all that there is. Did I lose you there? It’s easy for one to take a photo with or of a high-end vehicle or on some high-end location/island with some catchy caption with even the littlest allusion to how the vehicle came about. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for a leaflet’s worth of backstory but for those that follow to realize that so-and-so got this-and-that at a certain stage doesn’t mean you should literally kill yourself to get some thing similar just for “the gram”. If you can afford it conveniently, fine. If not, don’t stress it.
Still on “the picture analogy”, the media creates the notion of a perfect kind of thing. At first, it was the mags pushing the agenda (covergirls anyone?) alongside adverts. With the global village phenomenon however, these ideas have a wider if not universal reach. From the “ideal specs” of humans (male and female) to “ideal” families, possessions and lots more, the media at times could impress upon people the feeling of not being enough.
Regardless how much some would love to doubt this, social media does take a toll on our mental health. From pining for and monitoring the number of likes or views on a photo or video of yours to seeking validation from fellow users who in most cases are total strangers. Not to mention the depressing thoughts that sometimes accompany flipping and scrolling through feeds, SOCIAL MEDIA can be one of the WORST FORMS of PEER PRESSURE.
With the ‘goods’ of social media in mind, as well as the various ways people get to benefit from it, I can’t help but acknowledge the cons of social media:
I believe I did a post on this some while back (get to read it here). Social media and the media in general has its subtle way of suggesting things to our subconscious be it good or bad. You know how it’s often said that what you can’t picture, you can’t partake of? Social media constantly puts pictures of both right, wrong and wrong masquerading as right before our eyes. And then, at times the constant picture of these ‘wrongs as right’ before our eyes begin to make us accept them as “normal”.
Stemming from the aforementioned, this ("everyone is doing it" syndrome) is a syndrome that a couple get roped into. Some understand that social media folks show you what they would like for you to see but not all that there is. Did I lose you there? It’s easy for one to take a photo with or of a high-end vehicle or on some high-end location/island with some catchy caption with even the littlest allusion to how the vehicle came about. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for a leaflet’s worth of backstory but for those that follow to realize that so-and-so got this-and-that at a certain stage doesn’t mean you should literally kill yourself to get some thing similar just for “the gram”. If you can afford it conveniently, fine. If not, don’t stress it.
Still on “the picture analogy”, the media creates the notion of a perfect kind of thing. At first, it was the mags pushing the agenda (covergirls anyone?) alongside adverts. With the global village phenomenon however, these ideas have a wider if not universal reach. From the “ideal specs” of humans (male and female) to “ideal” families, possessions and lots more, the media at times could impress upon people the feeling of not being enough.
Regardless how much some would love to doubt this, social media does take a toll on our mental health. From pining for and monitoring the number of likes or views on a photo or video of yours to seeking validation from fellow users who in most cases are total strangers. Not to mention the depressing thoughts that sometimes accompany flipping and scrolling through feeds, SOCIAL MEDIA can be one of the WORST FORMS of PEER PRESSURE.
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