A while ago I had seen a video on YouTube as to why you should completely delete your social media the thumbnail was a rather unsightly image of Mark Zuckerberg in court in Washington (as I remember the high profile scandal of Facebook stealing users data). I didn’t watch it at first, but it came up in my recommendations again recently and decided to give it a go.
Yikes, well the reckoning came in full force.
I will talk about my experiences online and why social media is a complex capitalistic scheme.
In the past I have been influenced by the pressure of social media, one part of me knows (from experience) posting a pic looking good or living your best ‘life’ is never as true as it seems. Its obvious we all know people post what they want you to see. However, the other part of me would see things and side-eye a little -“okay she’s got that Gucci bag, how?”, “How does she get back to back flights to fly out to these nice places or how does he have a car and he’s younger than me AND he doesn’t work???” I think a lot of us have been there. Wondering what we’re doing wrong, and it’s absolutely nothing, *to emphasise* we are doing NOTHING wrong especially if you have a part-time job. More time you just don’t know what exactly they did to get it. Fair enough some people have the means and that's okay. However, what is not okay, is taking things at face value believing there is something you’re doing that’s holding you back or limiting how much you have.
Seeing this constantly every day, day in and day out does affect the mind. We are now in a new age where social media is a crutch, an easy escape from reality especially when we’re not feeling good. Countless times have I gone onto twitter when I’m upset and literally laugh for ages. Social media is so embedded in our daily lives it becomes difficult to separate what’s real and what’s not. In this perspective, it can even then become more toxic as referring back to the video I watched. The algorithms created by these sites essentially work to hook us in to constantly remind us of their existence e.g the notification, the likes the comments ... "see what so and so posted”. The way it works is that these companies have specialist experts that have studied how we take in things through our eyes and ears, and how it triggers the release of emotions or chemicals. For example, we may listen to a song that reminds us of a past time, the thoughts may release a signal to our brain where we then proceed to cry or be emotional. In this vein, as we take in these notifications, likes and what not this releases the neurotransmitter, Dopamine.
When people say ‘clout’ or ‘social media’ is one hell of a drug. They are scientifically correct, the dopamine chemical in our bodies when released, a rush of feeling, a burst of energy that is basically a high. When we receive positive attention and instant gratification through likes and comments, dopamine is released. Which is probably why the problematic individuals online are consistent repeat offenders, because attention (that you crave) feels GOOD. These companies have studied you extensively (more than you realise) have taken your data coupled with research and knowledge of the human mind and body and have created a system where the attention you crave becomes drug-like. The more you feed into it, the more it feeds into you. It becomes like a parasite, you concentrate less even to the point that studies have shown the most vulnerable point of your mind is the moment you log onto social media right before you see that you have a notification. When you see like and comments the release of dopamine occurs and it’s a vicious cycle.
Where I’m leading is that more time on socials leads to the addiction, being enthralled and involved in what others are saying and doing when you may not have ever met that person in your life. It takes from you the physical aspect of actually going out there and living a fulfilled life without actually having to post about it. Now people don’t go to nice places for enjoyment without posting themselves there. We’ve all been there, even if it is using Snapchat to record a moment of your experience e.g Concerts.
I genuinely believe sometimes that if social media was taken away right now people would not feel the need to be flexing in unnecessary ways. But that’s just me lmao.
It’s necessary to take time away from social media, many have an addiction and they don’t know it. Some telltale signs being:
-As soon as you wake up the first thing you go to is Twitter/Instagram/Snapchat.
-You find it difficult to concentrate before quickly reaching for your phone.
-It is difficult to be social in person however on social media you’re the life of the party.
-You’re phone screen weekly average reaching double digits.
As triggering as they may be, get help, and I mean it. Take a little bit of time away now and then in small increments if anything and do productive things, physically in the present. I understand the pressure is real to stunt in a time where we are expected to have it all at such a young age. It is not always so feasible.
Social media can be used for good, to make money and to motivate yourself however there is a thin line between proactive, leisurely time and full-blown addiction make sure you’re on the right side of the two spectrums because there is more to life than social media.
-Lero x