Technology is forever changing and improving. It helps us build objects, houses, equipment, cars, etc. It allows us to better understand our planet, our solar system, and the species and elements that inhabit them. It has allowed us to contact each other even when we are on opposite sides of the planet. Technology is truly remarkable! Things that were high in human labor are now as easy as pressing a button and letting the machine do the work. The recent rise of social media has taken the world by storm. We can see what our friends are up to in real-time, keep up with our favorite celebrities, and even learn a thing or two about topics that interest us, but like all other things, with light comes darkness.
I personally have an account on Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Just about everyone I know has multiple social media accounts and typically bounces back and forth between them. While many of us love to say that it “keeps us in touch with our friends” we all know that we tend to endlessly swipe over rather useless posts that don’t add much value to our lives at all. I don’t think that it’s terrible to want to have accounts on these platforms because, depending on how you use them, you can get a lot out of it (especially if you are using it for marketing). That being said I believe the problems begin when we start using social media to fill in gaps of boredom and use it as a “break” from life.
There are very few people, including myself, who give social media an appropriate amount of attention. Many of us get stuck in the black hole of the never-ending swipe causing a 10-minute catchup to turn into 30+ minutes of zoned-out scrolling. This addiction most definitely concerns me for a variety of reasons. In terms of global use, the spread of misinformation has torn people apart. If we can’t agree on what is true, then we’ve lost the ability to effectively problem-solve. I also seriously worry about the effects social media has had on younger generations and their mental health. Depression, anxiety, suicide, and drug use are skyrocketing, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this spike has occurred at the same time that social media sites rose to the top of app stores. The truth is it’s incredibly easy to feel alone when the “friends” you spend the most time with are digital profiles. It’s also exceedingly easy for people to use it as a weapon against others, whether it's cyberbullying, revenge porn, or any other terrible use of the web, people can be cruel, and it can ruin people’s lives, even your own. Your digital footprint is no joke and yet young kids aren’t taught just how important it is that you are careful about what you post on your accounts. One bad move can cost you a potential job or even get you in trouble with the law.
I also recognize that most often, users aren’t getting a whole lot of intellectual stimulation from using social media. We spend all this time scrolling, but it doesn’t really have any profound impact on our problem-solving skills or our ability to complete certain tasks. Don’t get me wrong, the ability to search anything up from the palm of our hands is incredible, but with speed can also come pages and pages of false information. So, not only are we not improving our intelligence, but we are also potentially damaging our ability to effectively assess data and information before believing it.
I have personally taken some steps to slowly decrease my use of social media and I think they are great steps that others can take as well. The first step I’ve taken is reading more. I’ve always loved reading and I love just about any genre. This has made a huge impact because not only is it a calming activity, but it also stimulates my brain. I can learn about history, economics, finance, marketing, and different philosophies all while giving myself a break from the stress that comes with everyday life. I’ve also started to follow accounts that are more educational so that when I am using social media, I am absorbing at least some valuable information. For example, I’ve followed people who specialize in cooking, cleaning, photography/videography, music, pottery, art, and even book recommendations.
Again, technology is amazing, but it casts a large shadow, and it seems to be growing darker. Social media provides us communication when we aren’t right next to each other, but it also makes it easier for us to display emotions that we wouldn’t otherwise show. We become fixated on the things that don’t matter. It’s not a lost cause, but like all other dependencies, steps have to be taken to limit our intake of it. The never-ending swipe is hard to fight, but I believe with time we can get better about using technology in ways that stimulate growth instead of tearing us down
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