Hello everyone, it is great to be back blogging again. Last week’s topic was about an experiment that I took place in. I decided to go four full hours without any technology. It went well for me in a sense, because I enjoyed the peace of mind and the books that I tapped into. This experiment led to another idea on, if and how social media gives us the ability to make us feel more connected. Humans have the ability to contact almost anyone at any given moment. It is definitely crazy to think about. The question is, are my friendships and relationships made more complex by their existence online? Do my relationships with my friends get better due to social media or do they get worse? It is a very interesting topic to think about and here’s my status on it.
I think social media in regards to friendships has a significant amount of strengths. For example, being able to contact people who live far away while keeping the relationship strong is an important aspect of friendship. Also being able to see how my friends and others are doing by looking at their updated social media pages is indeed a benefit. Reaching and getting in contact with a larger audience is also a strength because it helps to put yourself out there and even build a bigger bond with someone you care about.
For example, my best friend who was my roommate at Prep School is from Ghana and he lives in New York, very far from me. I have seen him about three to four times since we graduated and it is hard to connect in person but we talk via social media every single day. It varies between instagram, snapchat, text message and even facetime. He is my best friend and usually in life when you go long periods without seeing someone, you lose that bond you once had. I don’t think we’ll ever lose that bond because of the online social media world we have on our hands.
Social media also can build an individual’s brand. An example of this is someone in my family. My older brother is in the NBA and he is a familiar face to millions around the world. He uses his twitter and Instagram for his brand to help put himself out there to make money. Different advertising and marketing people like that and want him to promote their stuff. He then makes money off it. For example, is ethika underwear for men. He advertises them by posting instagrams of the product.
On the other side of the spectrum on how social media is a blessing, it also can be a curse. I think we all know, talking via social media and not face to face is a lot easier.
Social media is looked at as a drug. A video about how social media can control our lives is really mind blowing. Social media makes people addicted to it and it can cause people to compare to each other. When you compare yourself to others especially on social media where everyone post their successes and no failures, it leads to stress and anxiety. People look a lot happier on social media than what they truly feel deep down and that is the sad truth. The most important thing about social media is to use it the correct way and not to post for others approval.
Social media has its strengths and its weaknesses, and I am not telling you what to do but the best thing in regards to social media is to use it the correct way by keeping up with the people you love and appreciate. Also, to express yourself in an authentic way while showing love for others.
Marcus Zegarowski
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