Think about where social media came from, and why it was conceived. Using Facebook as an example; you have a young male college student who is socially awkward and wants more from his life but doesn’t know how to get it. Much like Holden Caulfield, Mark Zuckerberg struggles with his relationships. He isn’t willing to chance a look at himself as the common denominator of his problems, and put in the work required to achieve the ends he desires. Instead Mr. Zuckerberg is one of the rare individuals who, instead of changing himself, was able to change the world around him. He created a network which shortcuts the uncomfortable and awkward moments in life by allowing individuals to put their best edited foot forward. He gave people the ability to present themselves exactly how they wanted to be seen by the outside world, without ever having to face it.
Social Media was made by a person who is socially inept, for a person that is socially inept. When normal social functioning people frequent sites like Facebook, they’re essentially conforming to a means of interaction that is by default, beneath them. Active users continually degrade their real social ability. As social media grows in power and influence, we’re all slowly pulled down to the same level as the very same socially awkward individual that created the social media landscape. All social media is modeled from this aspect and will continue to damage society’s social fabric, person by person. The profile page is as opposite from social as anything can be because the profile acts as a barrier to the world. It is your presentation of you, but really has nothing to do with who you are at all since it is only what you want people to see, rather than being objectively you.
If ever a new social media platform was made it would have to be one where face-to-face interactions happen in real time. One that revels in the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time. One that promotes the uncomfortable struggle of making initial conversation. One that forces people to be who they are in the present moment. One where if you’re not actively in front of a camera you can’t be online. Because the beauty of life is in the moments we can’t control, it’s in the moments we’re willing to come out from behind our keyboards and profiles, and face the world directly. Get judged, feel awkward, and remain open to different ideas so that you might learn something new. So since it’s not social in its current form, what is the real consequence of social media on the average person?
Social Media was made by a person who is socially inept, for a person that is socially inept. When normal social functioning people frequent sites like Facebook, they’re essentially conforming to a means of interaction that is by default, beneath them. Active users continually degrade their real social ability. As social media grows in power and influence, we’re all slowly pulled down to the same level as the very same socially awkward individual that created the social media landscape. All social media is modeled from this aspect and will continue to damage society’s social fabric, person by person. The profile page is as opposite from social as anything can be because the profile acts as a barrier to the world. It is your presentation of you, but really has nothing to do with who you are at all since it is only what you want people to see, rather than being objectively you.
If ever a new social media platform was made it would have to be one where face-to-face interactions happen in real time. One that revels in the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time. One that promotes the uncomfortable struggle of making initial conversation. One that forces people to be who they are in the present moment. One where if you’re not actively in front of a camera you can’t be online. Because the beauty of life is in the moments we can’t control, it’s in the moments we’re willing to come out from behind our keyboards and profiles, and face the world directly. Get judged, feel awkward, and remain open to different ideas so that you might learn something new. So since it’s not social in its current form, what is the real consequence of social media on the average person?
two scoops
two genders
two terms