The Same Can be Achieved With or Without Social Media
As long as we care, try, and put effort to know, connect, and stay updated, the means by which we do so becomes secondary.
Some claim that every new technology has its set of pros and cons. Another group says that users of of technologies determine its good and/or bad consequences. A third perspective argues, according to the principle of “social shaping”, that the consequences of technologies arise from a mixture of “affordances”; innovations afford a varied set of capabilities whose ramifications are to be manifested as proper or flawed by the ways people make use of these capabilities (Baym, 2010, p. 44).
Presenting this third approach in contrast with the previous two and focusing on Social Media as the technological development we’re discussing, reflect a rational concept that as Lievrouw (2006) explains it, people and technologies are interrelated nodes that mutually influence the development of certain innovations and consequently their effects, thus shaping both the forms and the uses of these technologies (as cited in Baym, 2010, p.45).
Therefore, neither technologies can control us while we stand helpless, powerless, and brainwashed in front these imagined monsters, nor are any models of behavior (specially the corrupt) imposed on us inevitably. The forms that technologies- specifically Social Media- take and the uses they offer are adopted, rejected, or adjusted so differently in each society (Baym, 2010, p. 44) and specifically by each individual or user according to the societal interrelation previously mentioned.
Accordingly, despite that there are some general behavioral trends among users of Social Media (to connect, share, or stay updated) the experience that each user of Social Media undergoes is so customized and unique to this individual. And so will be the experience of NOT using Social Media for 72 hours. That is 3 days without Whatsapp, Facebook, and Twitter to me, but of course and any additional platforms you use as well (Instagram, Snapchat, Viber…).
So after presenting some major theoretical frameworks that define our relationship with Social Media (as a new technology), we’ll know discuss a real-life example; my real-life example of not using Social Media for 3 days. Does it seem a lot of torture and suffering? Well this is how the story went…
Personally, I don’t consider myself an addict of Social Media and so do my family and friends. I started using Facebook out of curiosity- it seemed an enchanting world of connection and messaging at the time (in 2010). To me, it did facilitate sharing of pictures specifically and connecting with my cousins who lived far. As for Whatsapp, the funny part is that before having it, people who asked for my phone number then knew I don’t use Whatsapp didn’t insist further on asking me about it. Or, if they took it either ways, I don’t recall them sending me a message. However, during my last months without Whatsapp, we had to have a group work in school- and consequently do a group on Whatsapp. So I joined- this was less than 2 years ago. Suddenly, people who never contacted me started sending Whatsapp messages and emoticons welcoming me to the world of ‘free-chatting’.
With Facebook and Whatsapp I felt I have enough means to chat, share information, and get information. To me, these goals have always been attainable throughout the history of humanity (starting with cave paintings and messenger pigeons) but the changes are with respect to time and efficiency. Before, we would stay my friend and I for 1 hour on the phone trying to explain a Math exercise. With technology we can easily send a picture of it with the corresponding solution in less than a minute.
Why am I explaining all this? To try to show my viewpoint towards the usage of Social Media. As I state in the beginning, ‘As long as we care, try, and put effort to know, connect, and stay updated, the means by which we do so becomes secondary.’ It’s not that we were or are isolated from the world without Social Media. We can still watch TV, send messages, call, or pay a visit. These ancient ways still work and help reach the same desires. But because they consume more time and/or even expenses, we only do them when it’s necessary- the example of my mobile number and Whatsapp. It’s the means that changes, time that is in some cases saved, and some tasks that are facilitated by Social Media. But when the intentions are really true or urgent, the means won’t matter.
This is why I felt no fear or frustration when I began this experience. I even predicted that no one on Facebook will notice ‘my absence’ since I’m not 24/7 active on it. Weeks might pass without me posting, sharing, or liking content on Facebook. As for Twitter, I’ve almost had it for 2 weeks when we were asked to create an account at university. I’m not highly active on it as well.
The only thing I thought about was Whatsapp. I contact my family whom I live far from now, my coworkers, and 2 best friends. But because I usually don’t check my Whatsapp until the afternoon or night, and because they know that it’s one of my habits not to immediately reply, and because they know that I think ‘if it’s a matter of life or death’ people who need me can call, I predicted they won’t immediately panic. The first day, my sister sent me Whatsapp and I didn’t reply- they didn’t call. The next day she chatted, I didn’t reply, then my mom called first to check if I’m okay and second because there was an important matter. See? Important.
As for my friend, she made no reaction until I sent her a message with my greetings for a special occasion she had. She replied on Whatsapp. When I didn’t open it she resent a message. On the third day she asked for the reasons I’m not viewing our chat on Whatsapp and using messages instead. I told her it’s an assignment.
When it was time to reactivate my mediated social life, I felt no urge or suspense. I logged in, checked the notifications bar and existed. Life to me was still the same before, during, and after the experiment. This is my story. It doesn’t include scenes of suffering or anxiety. Maybe it’s not full of much suspense, pain, and worries. It doesn’t include life-changing moments or sudden enlightenment. These same 3 days might have passed exactly the same without the experiment in itself. To me, they were normal routine days. Of course, as I previously said, each will have his/her own unique experience with and without Social Media. By this, I’m not taking a judgmental position- the experience each lives is to be so critically evaluated and is never so easily labelled as right or wrong.
What’s more realistic is that Social media are the same, we are different. The panic surrounding the ways Social Media might affect or change us can be reversed towards the ways we are using Social Media. Some ways do not urge panic, other ways might arise questions. We are the active players and Social Media are just the playground. You can use a swing to have some fun by swinging in the acceptable range.Yet, you can go wild and harm yourself or push someone off that swing and cause them harm. It’s a swing, it’s Social Media, there’s a range.
