Social network or Socializing?

I have always loved the social networks, to such extent that I encourage my mumma to use it everyday and it has worked wonders for her as well. Be it connecting to long lost relatives or being a part of cooking group, she has slowly and steadily learnt the art of it beautifully. This is what I love most about social network, it brings the world closer.

Then on an ordinary day mumma asked me a genuine question which triggered thunderstorm of thoughts. That day,I went out with two of friends to a movie , as usual one of us checked in, she saw the update and over the call she asked me, what is the purpose of checking in at a movie? you were not sharing some information or something, why did you do it? At first I reacted like that is what everyone does and defended it quite well but after that conversation I thought to myself, she is right, why do I do that? To my surprise I didn’t know the answer.

By definition, social network enables people to connect and share, share happiness,helpful information and important news may be. Albeit now it feels like we have left that concept far behind and it has became means of measuring happiness, proving to the world that we have a social life, to compare on who has a better life. In-spite of it being a platform to bring world closer, it has taken a reverse effect, we-the people are the biggest culprit. Over the years we have turned into insane people who are more worried about finding WiFi at restaurants than to enjoy food, more interested in having a perfect selfie than to have a perfect conversation. I do not know anyone else does or not but I feel guilt of this, I can recall times when I have been busy in proving I am having fun than having fun actually, although you never realize it when go through it, it happens so easily and quickly but once in a while when you look back you can feel it all, for me this is another form of peer pressure.

So that brings up the hard question should we do it or not? Like everything else in the world,answer to this question is ambiguous and lies within you. I believe that there is a very thin line between doing it because you want to and because you have to. I am firm believer that everything should be done in right amount. I will love to have a perfect selfie and to check in somewhere which I will always remember, at the same time I will not want to do it just to show off, just so that I can prove I am having fun, this thin line for everyone would be different but we all need to draw our line, because if we do not, the days are not far where social network will turn into social acceptance.

It is our generation, its digital world, we click and connect, but in amidst of it all aren’t we losing the essence of presence? While learning the art of social network we are almost forgetting the art of socializing. Social networking is easy, we hide behind beautiful pictures and interesting places but real life is not, life is real conversation with different people,out of your comfort zone, being vulnerable and being open to learning.

I will always be using social network as it has became an essential part of this generation but on any given day I will prefer social conversation over social networking. I personally do not see that, having 5000 followers but not able to converse with stranger for 5 min, is worth it. For me it will never be!

Lesson learnt, as usual thanks Mumma! :D