POLOKWANE – Our lives didn’t centre around social media.
Sure, Facebook was around and so was Twitter but it wasn’t as big as it is today.
If I look back at my memories on Facebook every day and I see the nonsense I used to post when I was still a teenager compared to the stuff I post now, I was a completely different person. So much so to the point that I sometimes cringe when I read what I had posted but then I think to myself, other people must be doing this too.
Same thing with my Twitter feed. But then I think about the uses of Social Media today and how it has completely changed the way we see the world and share the world with others. It has made things easier for us. You want news? Log on to Twitter, there’s breaking news at your fingertips. You want to get somewhere but don’t have a car? Open up the Uber app and catch an Uber. Want to see what your friends are up to?
Have a look on Instagram or check out their Snapchat. It also gives us a look at what our friends are up to, how they’re excelling and we catch a glimpse into their everyday lives.
I think it’s brilliant that we are able to interact and stay in touch with people in this way. I mean, 10 years ago we would have to phone family overseas to stay in touch, now, thanks to Skype and webcams, we’re able to see them at the click of a button.
But then I think to myself, how much sharing is enough? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying don’t share, by all means do so, but I know I’m not the only one of those few people on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram who seem like they don’t have work to do or studying to attend to because they’re always online. Do you not struggle with the rest of us when it comes to data? I mean, I have my days when I post on all platforms, I’m not denying that I don’t, but I pace myself.
I feel like we’ve become so used to being on social media that some people believe if you don’t post about it, it never happened. Yes, by all means, post a picture of where you are or check in on Facebook, but hourly updates on what’s going on? No, stop that! Put your phone down and enjoy what you’re doing and upload all the photo’s when you’re at home.
I feel like some people thrive on “likes” because they think the more likes you get, the more popular you are. Or the more friends you have on Facebook, the more popular you are. That’s not the case, not at all. Social Media can deceive, but guess what? Life can carry on without it. We lived without it for how many years?
Who knows, maybe in a few years there’ll be something else that will take over.
Raeesa Kimmie
