Something that has been on my mind this week is social media, and how the majority of us are practically obsessed with it. We live our lives behind a computer or a smartphone, not even aware of what is going on in our lives in the physical moment. And social media can be good, for things like connecting with people around the world in a much faster pace, or reading the latest headlines just seconds after it happened, but at what cost?
I've been involved with social media since I was 12. In 6th grade, I got my first MySpace profile. That same year I also got my first cell phone, which was a flip phone (God bless them). This was in 2006, when the internet was still a scary place and kids still had to have a parent let them on it. But now, kids are getting smart phones at an even younger age. Now kids and adults can access all of what the internet has to offer in the palm of their hands.
A few months ago, there was this famous Instagram girl who quit her Instagram account so suddenly with no explanation, until a few days later when she explained to the world how she took 50+ pictures of herself just to get the right angle, or how she spent the entire day just trying to gain attention and get more followers. Or how she was promoting companies that she didn't even use or care about. She was tired of living her life through a screen.
I feel like I've become much like this girl. Ever since I joined Facebook, or Instagram, or Twitter, and even Snapchat, I've always been concerned with who is viewing my stuff. I would look on Facebook and see other people post gorgeous, flawless selfies of themselves and their picture would get dozens of likes, while my own would get maybe 10, or 20 if I was lucky. But those likes weren't good enough, I always wanted more. Sometimes I would try and post stuff during the day at around noon because I knew that was when I would probably get the most likes. I would make sure I looked like a model before I posted it, because I wouldn't dare be seen looking like my average self. If I did post my average self, I wouldn't get as many likes. This is who I, and many others like me, have become. Our entire self worth is based solely off of how many people like or comment on our posts.
I've actually felt depressed before because I see people post on Facebook or Snapchat and they seem to be doing something all the time. Going out to a bar, traveling, just hanging with friends, going to a cool celebrities party. I literally do none of those things. (Major loser points ;)). Why should I care what other people are doing with their lives? Anyways they are most likely doing the same thing as me, which is go on Facebook and
I actually deleted my Instagram. And let me tell you, that was one of my best decisions. I don't miss Instagram. I don't miss seeing people's mirror selfie's and their six pack abs. I don't miss seeing how many likes someone else got from their almost nude photo. As soon as I deleted it, I felt free. I felt like my life was just a little bit better. I didn't have to worry about how many followers I had or if my selfie was model status. I could spend my day actually being productive, like watching Netflix or taking a walk outside with my lonesome self, and then going home crying and watching some more Netflix. A day well spent in my opinion.
If you're reading this, first off I thank you, but after you're done, shut off your computer, close the app on your phone, and look outside at our beautiful world. See the birds chirping to each other, see the wind move the trees ever so slightly. See the stars light up the night sky. And maybe, just maybe, you could tell a stranger on the street that you like their outfit, and to have a nice day. That's the old social media, and it works much better. :)
Love Yourself. Love Each Other. Love Adam.
