My Thoughts and Opinions on Social Media

    Social media is fairly new in the grand scheme of time and technology. This makes it difficult for every single one of its users to be fully aware of the potential consequences of their posts. Personally, I feel as though everyone should set personal boundaries for what they are willing to share on social media to protect their privacy as well as their peace. There are some things in regards to social media that seem obvious such as not sharing your passwords and only following people that you personally know, but there are some things that people often do on social media that are not so obviously threatening to their safety. I choose not to post my location in real time so that I do not give out my current location to anyone that does not need to know that information. The safer option for me is to post once I leave. Additionally, I do not share too much personal information on my public accounts. It is also really important to be mindful of the content that you post as well as the content you interact with; this information is accessible and permanent so it is important to think before you do. Engaging with hateful, inappropriate, or discriminatory content can negatively impact your future and career. When I was first exposed to social media at the ripe age of 11, I had no idea how serious it was. Luckily I was not participating in anything inappropriate and the worst of my mistakes on social media were just posting a few embarrassing pictures. I was primarily using Instagram and Snapchat to keep up with my friends. I still use Instagram and Snapchat but I have started to use other social media platforms such as TikTok and Youtube. If I could go back, I wish that I had known the permanence of social media. You think that because it can be deleted that it will go away forever, but that could not be farther from the truth.

I think social media could be so great. It has such great potential with its ability to allow its users to stay connected with each other as well as share things that reflect their likes and interests. If the internet was not such a cruel and judgemental place, social media would have a lot more of a positive effect on society. Regarding selfies, I think it can be a positive way for a person to exercise their self expression and build their confidence. Again, the problems really only arise when bullies get involved. I do believe that the way that you present yourself online matters in a sense that it is a direct reflection of you that is available for everyone to see. People that have never met you can develop opinions on you purely based on your social media. That is why mindfully posting is so important. And in today’s world, employers are very likely to look up your social media before ever even considering you for a position. The internet is so serious that your actions can affect your entire lifestyle. This is why I believe that having criteria for posts is important. It can help protect your lifestyle and reputation. 

One topic that I believe is a true toxic part of social media is how easy it is to compare yourself to others. Swiping through your feed and seeing perfect models one after another can have a negative effect on your self image. It is also so easy to retouch and manipulate content on social media; so most of what you are consuming is fake. They also will rarely disclose that the image is not the raw version. This can lead to people becoming insecure from comparing their raw, unfiltered, self to a retouched image. Often, I consider taking a break from social media or quitting all together. It can be stressful to consume all of the negative content that is constantly flowing through social media. The most major drawback from quitting would have to be the feeling of being left out. I do not know one person my age that does not have social media that they check daily. It is the main way that my generation stays connected, so without it, I think I would feel like an outcast. I think there is a happy medium though. If you control the amount of time that you spend on social media as well as only interact with positive content that makes you feel more confident, rather than more insecure, social media does not have to be such a negative thing. Everything in moderation!

    

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