Drop the social media ‘mask’ and join community clubs
Keeping your friends on social media updated about your life is not necessarily a bad thing; it becomes a problem, however, if you use social media as a shield or a ‘mask’ to reflect an image to the world of someone who you choose to be.
POLOKWANE – When you see one of your Facebook friends constantly engaging in a certain kind of Facebook activity, from being negative or fabulous to posting lots of food pictures, you begin to wonder what’s the intent behind it all. Is that couple really that happy, and if so where did the 12 photo galleries per day, and declarations of love, disappear to after two months. Why does one feel the need to show the world what you had for lunch? Is checking in at certain spots an attempt to prove you are fabulous and more exciting than others or is it simply excitement?
According to Vincent Cloete, a local psychologist, some people are genuinely unhappy and alone and so Facebook gives them a sort of ‘mask’ granting them the opportunity to choose whomever they want to be.
Cloete explained this is something which people hide behind in order to soften the blow of the actual problems a person might experience. “Some people are extremely alone and what they desperately need is actual physical interaction with others and not virtual interaction. Facebook, however, pacifies the need for interaction, albeit only in a virtual non-physical way. A conversation with someone on Facebook might drown out a certain amount of loneliness, even if it is just for a couple of hours.
Meeting people, however, is easier said than done for some and this is why being social on social media comes easier than actual interactions. A great way to start is by doing introspection in order to determine what your interests or hobbies are and then researching that specific field in order to join a local club, volunteering at organisation or start a recreational sport. Having a mutual interest can be a point of reference to start a conversation and making new friends while at the same time having fun doing something you enjoy. The first step, however, is to personally get active and join a group or organisation, overcoming the possible fear of rejection. There are various local options and with a little effort to find your own niche, social media will soon be playing second fiddle.
Photography club: Willem Davel – 082 468 0468.
Birdlife Polokwane: Joe Grossel – 082 455 5250.
VLU-Noord Finesse Aandtak: Petro Doman – 072 306 8222.
Doornkraal Voortrekkerkommando: Dawie van Eden – 082 498 2255.
Rotary Club Polokwane: Keith Ross – 082 440 4668.
Park Run: Felicity Roberts – 079 897 3314.
Jukskeiklub: Anton Botha – 074 157 9965.
Action sports: Lelani Venter – 082 398 0114.
Bowls club: Jewles Coetzer – 082 804 9740
