It used to be if everyone is doing something would you? We can all hear our mothers nagging "If Johnny jumped off a cliff would you?" In today's world, it would be fairly accurate to say everyone does social media, to me however it is very different than jumping off a cliff with Johnny. Social Media has become a must do must have in many fields. For instance, most of the news articles I read today are the result of a link I saw on Facebook. People no longer pick up newspapers, to be honest, newspapers are barely printed anymore so in order to get new you must find it online. Another example where social media has become imperative is getting a job. Sure we all know that your frat or sorority Facebook stalked you, but it also happens in the real world. The way you present yourself online makes a huge difference in how you are seen while walking into your interview. Apps like Linked in have become huge resources for companies looking to hire and for that reason many people must participate in the social media jungle.
Despite social media's importance in communication and relationships today, I do understand people's grievances towards the superficial lifestyles. People post pictures of how they want their lives look. They don't post pictures of themselves staying at home watching Netflix, no they post pictures of themselves skydiving, traveling and apple picking. Videos of concerts are snap chat-worthy, videos of you and your dog on your couch are not. To some, it is all about the follows and the likes, but what we need to remember is social media wasn't invented to prove your popularity but instead to keep connections. I think we forget this because there are concerns that kids are now strictly making relationships on social media, and it is hindering their ability to form relationships in normal social settings.
Social media can affect so many aspects of life good and bad, and I think the key is to understand its strengths and its benefits while combating its weaknesses.
Thanks for the interesting post on the role social media has in student life. I feel like a dinosaur heading for the tar pits.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly with this post. I ride the train to Dallas three times a week for work, and I often spend the entire 40-minute ride perusing through several different social media outlets. Sometimes this can be beneficial, such as connecting with coworkers and updating my résumé through LinkedIn or reading news updates; however, most of the time I am watching Snapchat stories or scrolling through the same Instagram newsfeed for the fifth time since 8am. Either way, social media often takes over this time, when I could be reading for class or interacting with the stranger sitting beside me. They may have an insanely cool life, and I missed out on getting to know them because I was updating my Facebook profile picture.
ReplyDeleteDespite the positives and negatives of social media, it is here to stay. I think educated young people about the potential dangers and distractions of social media from an early age will help combat many of the negative consequences that stem from social media. Looking toward the future, the best thing we can do is attempt to stay positive in our social media experience, keeping them to a minimum and striving to make our human interactions more abundant. A person should not place their value and worth on the number of likes their posts get; however, this is the society that we live in today. By creating a more positive change t social media, we will be able to combat these negative effects.
I agree wholeheartedly with this post. I ride the train to Dallas three times a week for work, and I often spend the entire 40-minute ride perusing through several different social media outlets. Sometimes this can be beneficial, such as connecting with coworkers and updating my résumé through LinkedIn or reading news updates; however, most of the time I am watching Snapchat stories or scrolling through the same Instagram newsfeed for the fifth time since 8am. Either way, social media often takes over this time, when I could be reading for class or interacting with the stranger sitting beside me. They may have an insanely cool life, and I missed out on getting to know them because I was updating my Facebook profile picture.
ReplyDeleteDespite the positives and negatives of social media, it is here to stay. I think educated young people about the potential dangers and distractions of social media from an early age will help combat many of the negative consequences that stem from social media. Looking toward the future, the best thing we can do is attempt to stay positive in our social media experience, keeping them to a minimum and striving to make our human interactions more abundant. A person should not place their value and worth on the number of likes their posts get; however, this is the society that we live in today. By creating a more positive change t social media, we will be able to combat these negative effects.
I really liked your posts and agreed with your points! When I have a break in my day or just a moment of boredom, I find myself scrolling through my phone. Waiting for class usually everyone in the hallway is on their phone instead of interacting with each other. I agree with what you said on how even though you don't always like having social media, it is apart of your life. Even though I don't actively post on social media, I do look at it every day and even sometimes just to make the notification go away.
ReplyDeleteWhile I have thought of deleting social media accounts, it becomes necessary to have some of them. For example, many campus organizations will only posts updates of events and meetings on social media. I was even told up to sign up for another social media account - LinkedIn - because it is important for job searches.
I do believe social media has many benefits and isn't going away. I wish sometimes it was less prevalent in society, but that it why it is important for individuals to use it with moderation.