With social media, we can communicate with our friends and family in a more effective manner. We can share photos of our daily lives and connect with people on the other side of the world through instant messages. Certainly, having access to social media can be a privilege – however, are we using it properly?
Sadly, many teenagers these days seem to forget the actual purposes of social media. People initially begin using social media simply to connect with other people or find valuable information; however, many end up doing the exact opposite.
As a generation, it almost seems like we do not know how to fully enjoy the present. Instead of having valuable conversations and exchanging meaningful ideas with the ones around them, many choose to stare into their smartphones and connect with others online. At restaurants or cafes, we can easily see people choosing to wander around the online world, completely forgetting why they decided to meet someone in the first place.
As smartphone usage increases, the issue of integrity in social media is becoming a greater problem. Many neglect to improve their true selves, and instead, choose to create a distorted, idealized persona in virtual reality. Instead of seeking out actual relationships in real life, we get so focused on building our status on social media. The self-identity of this generation seems to be built on figures – number of likes, number of comments, and the number of followers.
And, the sad thing is, although we do know the problems of social media, we often concede to them. We would judge other people for being “fake” on Instagram, but fail to realize that we are doing the same as well. Although it may seem difficult, the answer is simple: choosing to be truthful. Instead of trying to be what we are not, we have to learn to embrace ourselves the way we are. We have to remember that the online world cannot serve as an accurate representation of what others are like, or who we are. We have to take a step back and reflect on ourselves. In the end, the people who actually care for you will stay – and that’s really all that matters.