With the advanced technology and existence of Internet in these modern times, a particular type of addiction has emerged. This is especially among the new generation of youth or the so-called millennials. We often find ourselves browsing the social media for hours, going through various Facebook posts or tweets about our favorite celebrities. We watch hilarious, videos and sharing memes to our timelines. Likewise, we share our thoughts and sentiments using hashtags to address popular topics. The social media has become our safe haven where we can escape the reality.
However, no matter how heavenly social media is, the truth is it’s shielding us from the reality of the world. It has stolen our lives and our capability to work and strengthen the relationships we have in the physical world. We’re so busy on building and restoring our virtual connections that we have neglected the important people we have in real life.
The problem with social media is that we become too transparent in life. We tend to post every action we take, broadcasting it to the whole world, especially when it comes to discussing the milestones, goals, and success we have in life. Because of this, we can’t help but get trapped into the terrible social comparison cycle.
A notable example of this is with your love life (hello, Valentines). You may notice that some of your friends (or perhaps you) are already bitter about the coming 14th. Why? It’s because you’re envious that all of your friends and colleagues have that special someone to celebrate this occasion with and probably you don’t have one.
And where does that leave you? You feel cold, alone, and bitter since you don’t have someone to celebrate with. The truth is, you don’t have to compare yourself as everyone is different. Maybe your significant other is still on the way. In the perfect time, they will come to you. Therefore, instead of wallowing yourself in pity, try to focus on attaining your goals.
This is actually in connection with number 1. Since we just love to broadcast our entire life to the world, our privacy has been compromised. It’s like you’re telling and giving these bad people permission to steal your identity. Remember that scammers are rampant on the Internet. They could easily steal your identity, your photos, information, even copy your mannerism and use it to their own ill intentions.
They can easily fraud your identity and commit heinous crimes. And where does that leave you? You’ll be the one bearing all the crimes, penalties, and responsibilities for these criminals’ doings. If you don’t want that kind of burden, then protect your privacy. Only share a percentage of your life to the world. Hold tight to the most crucial part. Most of all, only add the people you know personally to your friends’ list.
You may not have realized it, but social media platforms significantly influence your mood. What would you feel if you see a dog getting tortured by a man? You’ll feel angry, hurt, and pity. What would you feel if you see a photo of your favorite team? Most likely you’ll squeal in joy. What would you feel when you’re waiting for a chat reply from your crush? You’ll probably be anxious.
See? In every small thing we do, we become greatly influenced by the social media. Therefore, if you’re feeling anxious, stressed out, or pressured, it’s time for you to take a break. It might be difficult at first, but we promise it will be worthwhile. You’ll soon realize that there is more to life than the online world.
And now that you’re disconnecting your virtual world, take this opportunity to connect with the reality. Connect with your real friends and invite them for a coffee date and chitchat as you catch up. Or if not, you can go and bond with your family. Create memories with them. Physical memories are so much better than what’s happening online.
