I Declare Hostility to Social Media

It’s time to cultivate authenticity in the age of digital illusions.

Perhaps staying offline is not an easy thing to do in this era of digital abundance.

In an age dominated by smartphones and an overflow of digital content, I feel compelled to make a declaration — a rebellious stance against societal norms in this digital era.

I declare hostility to social media.

Well, it’s not going to be total hostility at all. This isn’t a rejection of technology or connectivity; rather, it’s a deliberate act of defiance against the subtle yet pervasive influence of social media on our lives.

As we continue to explore the world of the internet, there is no denying the power of social media. Platforms promise connection, information, a curated sense of belonging, and finding a future partner, because it’s possible, isn’t it? However, beneath this surface lies a realm of complexities, intricacies, and, dare I say, hostilities that demand our attention.

My hostility toward social media stems from a concern for its impact on our collective consciousness. The incessant stream of content, often designed to trigger immediate reactions, fuels a cycle of mindless consumption. Or as it’s known as doomscrolling. In this hostile environment, depth and nuance become casualties, overshadowed by the pursuit for the next viral sensation.

The pursuit of engagements, measured through likes, shares, and comments, has transformed into a contemporary metric of self-worth, creating a virtual economy where validation is traded as a prized currency. However, the disturbing truth is that, in this pursuit, genuine self-esteem is often sacrificed for the sake of external approval.

In a world where social media promises connectivity on a scale never seen before, a paradox emerges. Take platforms like TikTok, for instance — a space where users engage in an endless stream of short videos, each of them competing for attention and validation. Despite the illusion of abundant affirmation in the form of likes, shares, and comments, there’s a lack of authenticity. Users often find themselves in a never-ending cycle of comparison, creating other identities or persona (read: avatar) through carefully choreographed performances.

Talking about social media superficialities, this reminds me of reading Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation. In the world of curated online identities, we often find ourselves in a space where copies or simulations overshadow the real. Individuals create virtual personas detached from concrete reality, giving rise to hyperreal entities (avatar, for instance) that gain significance beyond their lived experiences. In this spectacle of abundance and simulacra, the curated online identity becomes a carefully constructed simulation — a hyperreal performance that masking underlying insecurities.

Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007), a French postmodernist philosopher, is renowned for his concept of ‘Simulacra and Simulation.’ His theory explores the simulation of reality in a world dominated by media and signs, where copies become detached from the real, creating a hyperreal environment.

The concept of simulacra echoes in the avatars and carefully constructed identities that define our online presence. In this theatre of social media, the distinction between reality and simulation dissolves, and our digital performances become hyperreal manifestations, blurring the lines of authenticity.

Baudrillard’s notion of hyperreality gains prominence as we engage in this dance of abundance and simulacra. The digital stage, adorned with likes and comments, transforms our online personas into hyperreal spectacles, captivating audiences and validating our curated simulations. Yet, beneath the applause lies a paradox — a potential detachment from our genuine selves.

A kind of virtual life attachment that leads to real life detachment, which makes me imagine like the Black Mirror kind of dystopia.

In the world of curated online identities, we often find ourselves in a space where copies or simulations overshadow the real.

So, to me, this will be one of my New Year’s resolutions. I hate to say it because it’s cliche, but bring it on! Because, why not? In embracing hostility towards social media, we begin on a path of self-discovery, navigating uncharted terrain with discernment. This serves as a reminder that our authenticity should not be overshadowed by the illusions of online validation. It is an assertion of our right to live in a world that values genuine connections and self-worth beyond the confines of digital metrics.