Welcome to the PR era, where your public relations and engagement skills are everything. The way you present yourself and the way others see you is based entirely on your online image.
In the past we communicated by mail and telephone, occasionally sending paper prints of ourselves to family. All of this changed with the advent of phones, communications transcended the simple text or call and we started sharing our lives. Presenting ourselves in an ever saturated pool of images trying to stand out. With habits changing our lives making us change the systems we use from email, SMS, and online forum’s to now Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and even TikTok.
Now let me tell you a personal story about a common problem; Facebook is negative. Every post either focuses on “what’s wrong with…” or “stay safe because…” and the infamous “I never post but…” All this negative attention in one place has caused me to dread using the site. Sure messages are good but they all inevitably lead back to the newsfeed.
Constantly checking and receiving updates from people I didn’t even speak with became my past-time. Jealousy and pride became the only thing as a result. I felt trapped so I left.
Instagram and Snapchat are the only two social sites I use regularly, with all my followers or friends. Snapchat is like Skype with a modern advantage of being a quick message service providing to the point conversation. While Instagram is a gold mine of people you know, and those you wish you knew, all posting the most positive or unique images. The video below is a perfect example.
People feel as though it’s depressing to see everyone else have a good time. I think not. If I can live my life knowing the people around me are having a good time, even if I’m not, I will be more motivated to strive harder to reach those goals. Research has shown the negative effects of this endless chase for popularity. But in a moderate case, that party/ event or trip you went on to post about, actually happened and it’s impossible to ignore the adventures that inevitably occur. You may think its to show off to others but in doing so you force yourself to have more fun experiences. In a bizarre way, social media has gamified life.
In 15 years from now when the current generation is no longer young what will our, most likely irrelevant Instagram accounts, mean to us? I think they will act as an archive of only the highlights of our past and serve as a reminder to our existence. As if not to be forgotten. Like a yearbook, only a whole generation captured on a few social media sites.
Looking back on all the ways you ever communicated, who would send a letter in 2020?
👏=❤️
