Social Media is not for Idiots
What do you use social media for? Do you use your apps to send messages? To send photos? To scroll down your news feed to see the latest update?
Don’t you think there are better ways to use social media?
I have asked myself this question multiple times. I am guilty of wasting hours using my social media apps to stalk friends or to goggle at Channing Tatum’s body but I have realised that this provides me no benefit; I can actually feel my brain cells die every time I pointlessly scroll through my news feed. I even contemplated deleting my social media apps, but then I started thinking- maybe there are people worth following?
It is true that there are some people that abuse their social media platform to seek power and gain self-confidence by hurling insults, bullying people and preach racist or discriminatory comments whilst hiding comfortably behind their screen. From horrible cyber-bullies that tormenting their school peers by posting inappropriate images or driving them into committing suicide to Katie Hopkins fostering racial hatred just because she likes the sound of her own voice. These are honestly the real idiots of social media.
But amongst these cruel people, there are influential role models who use social media to spread and raise awareness about current issues.
Today, the beauty standard is very high and having easy access to images of celebrities with perfect bodies on social media platforms has only raised this standard. According to a study in 2010 by the Girl Scouts of America, ‘88% of young girls believe that the media puts a lot of pressure on them to be thin and 65% believe that the body image represented in the fashion industry in the media is too skinny.’ The media increases the chances of a young girl having poor body image, which only leads to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and eating disorders.
But social media influencers such as Tess Holliday uses their social media platform to deface bodyshamers and reduce this ridiculous beauty standard. She started the #effyourbeautystandards movement on Instagram to show women that they don’t have to be big or small to love their body and that their size should not dictate their fashion choices. She promotes body confidence and has fought to change beauty standards. Tess Holliday has also boycotted Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr accounts under the name of ‘Project Harpoon’, as they photoshopped her image and other models such as Rebel Wilson and Melissa McCarthy to make them appear slimmer without asking for authorization.
Another example of a social media influencer is Brandon Stanton who is a photojournalist and is best known, as the founder of ‘Humans of New York’. He uses photographs to portray the everyday lives of New York residents and covered topics such as love, marriage problems, drinking issues, etc. He also used these photographs to cover sensitive topics such as people struggling with sexuality and refugees that struggle to find a stable home. His hard work has gained him recognition from famous celebrities such as Barack Obama and Ellen DeGeneres.
In 2015, Stanton travelled to Pakistan and Iran to photograph people. At the end of his trip to Pakistan, Stanton crowd funded $2.3 million, through his influence on social media, to help end bonded labour in Pakistan. During the American election, Stanton used his social media platform to oppose Donald Trump’s presidential campaign to criticise Trump for his hateful speech and defended protesters that were violent at his rallies.
These are two people out of millions who use their influence on social media to raise awareness and provide a benefit to our society. They use their social platforms to battle social issues and raise funds to help the underprivileged. These are the people to follow and these are the people that you should support. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong in following your favourite celebrities but is your life really going to be enriched from knowing how much money they spent on a new car or how good their bum looks after their fifth surgery?
No, follow people that try so hard to make a change, follow them and support them because you will be surprised at how ignorant you have been. We all know people struggle with body image, we all know that people get discriminated and we all know that there are people that struggle with sexuality. But by following people that want to make a change, it will also change you.
Use social media smartly.
With thanks to Justine Salles
