Why we will survive the social media addiction
Social media is important, but we can live without it.
Yes, I do spend quite some time on my smartphone. I start with Facebook, then switch to Instagram, look for the latest news on Twitter and entertain myself with a couple of videos on Youtube. Maybe in a different order, but this is what most internet users do almost every day, multiple times a day.
Does this mean that I am losing my ability to have real human interactions? I wouldn’t say so.
If you google “social media is bad for you” you will get about 42 million results — which is no surprise. Just imagine how many times your parents have complained about your excessive use of your mobile phone. That is probably more than that.
If you then google “social media is damaging society” you will get about 3.5 million results. Again, an incredible number, but that doesn’t mean it’s true.
History teaches us that this is not the first time we have been concerned about a new trend or evolution. In fact, this is a completely normal behaviour that is set to repeat itself over and over again.
Think about it. Past generations might not have had mobile phones, but their heads were locked on newspapers, then their ears were focused on the radio. Some years after, everyone was sitting in front of a television screen. With every change and revolution, there is some concern since no one can really determine how it will affect our lives. In fact, we’ve only had the Internet in its public form for about 30 years now and it’s still changing.
The greatest change is how the media has become more and more social. With newspapers, television and radio, we were passive consumers. We were just an audience.
Now, we are consumers and producers. We no longer just listen, watch or read, we ourselves create, respond and write. This is an incredible evolution because it gives each and everyone a voice.
Why do you think there are 42 million results on why social media is bad for you? Those are 42 million voices of parents, children, teachers, journalists, youtubers, doctors, trolls and comedians.
Of course, social media is not all good. Everyone having a voice also means that every idiot can use it too. Some idiotic internet trend might go viral (like the ‘Tide pod’ challenge) or an impulsive President can use Twitter to prove that he has the biggest button. We have seen that stupid or untrue facts might spread more easily now, but is also easier to unfold the truth. As Umberto Eco says: ‘the truth is, only idiots heed idiots. So let them. Those who wish to know better will seek to know better and those who are satisfied with rank ignorance, stupidity, and misinformation will never care for the truth’.
Yes, social media has a place for everyone and everything. However, this doesn’t mean that we have to live on the internet. As wonderful as it might be for everyone to have something to say or post on social media, there are also other ways. It might come as a surprise for some of you, but “millennials” know how to cherish real-life moments. Yes, we might take an endless number of selfies while we are at it, but we can stay connected to the real world as well.
Of course, like in every aspect of our lives, there needs to be a balance. Being constantly on your phone is obviously not healthy. However, wanting to share something you believe in or something new you have created or a new place you visited doesn’t make you a social media addict. Because by the end of the day, I know that the only support I need is from the people I love, not from the number of likes I received — in my case, at least.
Technology has not changed you or your ‘real life’ abilities. If anything, it just made your life a little easier. The same goes for social media.
Because we are heard we are listening.
With thanks to Tracy Enright and @Justinesalles
