SOCIAL MEDIA : DRIFTED LIVES

 

It all started with a vision in mind to connect the friends in the campus together. The idea was mesmerizing and it eventually paved the path for all the corners of the world to get connected. It was possible because of Facebook 

Facebook was introduced as a media platform to connect with family and friends all around the world, And to share pictures, thoughts for them to see. It even helped people to make friend all around the world. It was a beautiful phenomenon at first where everything was about building relationships and maintaining them no matter where you are in this world. 

 

But, there is always a but!
The same platform that was introduced as a connection to the world is now breaking up the smallest unit of society and the largest world all together. In a birds view, it’s breaking society apart.

What is going wrong in Facebook and all the other social media platforms?

There is a never ending list of cons to those platforms these days. But I see 3 major issues attached to them that make humanity go sideways

1.       Breaking the family unit

 

Family is the smallest unit of society at large. Our parents are the reason why we are here. They are the reason why we eat, sleep, breath. But these tiny palm gadgets and those applications have driven all of us away from our parents.

When was the last time we sat with our parents to talk with them about our life or their life. We barely see their existence in our lives because we are glued to our screens and talking with people on those platforms than being with those who are right in front of our eyes.

We need to realize the value of our parents we need to realize that they will not be with us forever and if we are not taking efforts to be with them while we can, we will be the one to regret when they leave us forever because we didn’t care for them when they were with us.

2.       Higher stress, anxiety and depression

 

Anxiety and depression has been on the rise since the invention of these platforms and self harm to teenagers have increased as a result of this. These platforms are designed to increase the anticipation of the users through notifications as such that the people are less concentrated on their work and more subconsciously anxious about both receiving notifications and not receiving notifications as well.

The phone is idly sitting next to you and then you’re just anxious inside thinking whether you have received anything or not this leads to anxiety and releases cortisol which is a stress hormone. Even on the other end the so called happiness received from likes, comments even the notifications you get releases dopamine which is a pleasure hormone.

All of this generally leads our bodies to become junkyards of hormones. And this issue needs to be identified and the future generations need to be saved from this as mental health needs to be given proper attention as much as physical health gets

3.        Constant comparison

 

We were brought up in societies where our parents told are you are beautiful and unique. Even Bruno Mars in one of his song mentions that “you are beautiful just the way you are”. However with social media the bar has risen up for beauty, for self value and what not. Almost every person now is looking at others and comparing themselves to others and wanting to become like others.

This is the end of a ‘uniqueness’ in people because now you are always wanting to become like someone else or get that social acceptance from others through likes, comments you have lost your own self. You are looking at other peoples’ lives and you seek for validation from others.

Understand that you do not require beauty standards or validations to know that you are beautiful. The moment you accept the facts the less you will seek validations from others. Admit to yourself that you are beautiful without asking others because how you see yourself is what matters the most.

Conclusion

These are just minor segments of this whole web of social media that affects our lives. Therefore take a moment to understand the truth behind them. And take proper measurements to value yourself and you family that is already with you right now than seeking validations and going behind a virtual world that you desperately want to be true.

Appreciate yourself and live today in the real world than living in a blind world. Take that step to move away from social media and live in this beautiful world. Have time for family and for yourself. Save your time wasted on social media to invest in your future and in the meantime identify who you are and cultivate on that. Above all save yourself from all this.