Many times we fail to see that when we glue our attention to our phones, we are destroying our lives through the excess usage of social media. We often lose track of life because we are so caught up in the lives of others and being in the trap of comparison with the world. We put forth an image that is not even us just to receive the validation and attention we thirst to get. Outlined below are five solid reasons social media is ruining lives.
- Social Media causes you to compare to others. You probably won’t realize this in the beginning but truly being on these social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter & Instagram have you to think that you must look a certain way to be seen. It demotivates the values of the character causing them to think that they must portray a certain image to get recognition. When we do this, we often become drain because we are not living up to our purpose but trying to please others. We lose our identity and our purpose by trying to be someone who we are not.
- Manipulate minds and controls our actions. Have you ever wonder why you can’t stop scrolling? Why can you never be satisfied? Why you spend so much time on these platforms and not even notice? Well, the ultimate focus of these social media platforms today are to occupy our time. According to the Netflix Documentary, “The Social Dilemma” the creators of these platforms refer to users as “products.” Therefore advertisers pay these platforms for our attention to increase their business revenue and productivity, while manipulating our minds in having us wasting our time. Social media drives our attention to look at what they want us to look at. The operators of these platforms know exactly what you love and what will keep you longer on their platforms, so instead of coming off when you feel to, they present more of what will keep you attach to their platforms. They study the patterns of how we use these social media platforms. EVERYTHING YOU DO ONLINE IS RECORDED AND MONITORED.
- It can be harmful to you and others. Can you find true satisfaction on these platforms? Probably you will find a few videos to watch and laugh about but truly plenty of false and distasteful news is spread throughout these platforms to mislead folks. Misinformation is the lead in our society today because everyone is presenting information on certain issues. Everyone is giving their opinion and sometimes you just don’t know what to believe. You may become frustrated or give into misinformation. At first, when these platforms were created, they were not created to bring harm, they where created to help people but today social media can be used as a weapon to harm others reputation, it creates cybercrime, populism, chaos, and present misinformation. I am sure that these things really make you unhappy and the world is surely not getting better when people continue to practice these unjust habits.
- Not valuing what is important. When was the last time you spent quality time with your family? or your spouse? or even your pet? When was the last time you took a walk on the outside to view the beautiful sunset? Not being interrupted by the phone every time you have important task to do? The aim of social media is to utilize your time and take control of life. If you allow social media to control you, it will continue to ruin what is precious to you. You must be in control of you, not your gadgets. Plenty of times I see relationships fail because instead of two persons being in love, they fall in love with a device.
- Digital Pacifier. Social media has become a place were we place our burdens. When someone is stressed or depressed, the only choice they believe that they have is scrolling through these platforms and isolating themselves from others. Seeing posts and opinions of everyone presented in anyway they choose to, is definitely not a healing process for your mind. Instead, your are making yourself more depressed by adding all different types of influence to your life that may not beneficial. If you need help in this aspect you should definitely speak to someone who cares or see a psychiatrist. If you made it this far reading this article, now is the time to take back what is yours, your life. Stop letting social media ruin your life.
Sheridon Gayle 