I use several forms of media each day. To start my day off before even getting out of bed I use my smartphone to log in to Instagram. With a simple graze of my finger I can look into to other people's lifestyles as if I am reading the morning paper. I see some of my peers posting philosophical quotes from famous authors and others would simply take basic pictures of themselves to start the day wherever they are at the time. None of it however, gives me a sense of enlightenment before getting up, it's simply entertainment. Knowing this doesn't stop me from then logging into Facebook as well afterwards and doing the same thing. The Social media dopamine addiction would leave someone like me disappointed to know that I didn't receive any messages or notifications.
So finally, I get out of bed. I turn on the television to see if any familiar movies are on. Instead of searching for something new I tune into to a show/movie that I've seen millions of times. Therefore, my mind is still dormant. While i'm simultaneously watching television I am constantly checking my email, Facebook, and Instagram accounts awaiting for something to breathe life into my day. Have you ever heard the term "Don't wait for someone else to make your life happen?" well, that's me on a very casual day. I use media to spark interest into my life. So if I come across a friend posting an invitation to a party later that day, I tune in to 98.5 on the radio is I put my car into gear and head there. It is almost as if you are in competition with your friend's list. I sometimes feel that I am trying to keep up with the latest entertainment so I do spend countless hours watching other people "appear" to have the time of their lives on social media.
The perspective my events such as my friend's gathering appears to be the greatest thing into the world at that moment. This is because some people, including myself have become so wrapped into new media that we have traded in our hobbies and personal interests to have the appearance of a celebrity lifestyle by showing others how extravagant we are and how much fun we can be. However, who are we trying to please? Our Friends? Family? Strangers? We have we become some wrapped into the lives of people that we don't even know that well? This I feel is a negative influence that some of us are picking up because we are constantly seeking validation or conformation of our daily routine. Years before Facebook or these other forms of new media were established, we didn't need to validate our existence to complete strangers as much, or at least not through the internet.
After my day finishes and I arrive back in bed, I use the pictures I posted of sometimes irrelevant moments to recap my day. At other times at log back in to my account(s) to see if it were anything that I missed from "Sarah's" day. Who is Sarah?...my point exactly.
I very much agree with the sense of trying to keep up with social media. I always remind myself that I have hundreds of friends. Therefore, just like everyday in the world is someone's birthday, everyday someone on facebook is probably having the "time" of their life. There will always be a party, someone buying a home, graduating, giving birth and so on and so forth. I do not let it get to me as it naturally would the moment you have woken up to a day with no exciting plans and see someone going on a vacation to Bora Bora. Which is why sometimes I subconsciously feel guilty if i post about doing something fun. I start to feel like what if someone thinks I am boasting or showing out? The way people perceive us virtually is a fraction of our lives. We post what we want to share and that doesn't always define exactly who we are.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started using Facebook, I found myself glued to it constantly. I felt that if I didn't at least post something everyday, I was doing something wrong. And i really couldn't understand it. At my office, my director put in place a policy that we couldn't log on to any social media site. Some of my co workers were going though withdrawals like a addict that couldn't get their fix. That's what made me start to look at weaning myself of checking FB daily. I so agree that we feel we have to validate our existence and selves to a site why people making posts to a website. I feel there are times when people somewhat lose a sense of tactfulness with some of there posts. And I've learned that my life isn't that happening to need to be on FB daily anyway.
ReplyDelete