Sometimes I wonder if social media has made my life better
or worse. I have lived abroad for 15 years and have found social media a great
way to keep in touch with friends who no longer live in the same city as
myself. For the people I met that do not use social media, they are no longer a
part of my life but still remain in my memories. For those that choose to
update their friends via status updates and selfies, I sometimes wonder if they
are doing it for us or for themselves.
Much research is being conducted on the anxiety of using
Facebook. According to Marissa Maldonado (2014), studies have shown that using
Facebook ‘makes people feel inadequate and generates stress and worry’. When we
see photos of our friends living lives that we wish we could also lead, how
could it not lead to feelings of inadequacy? Well – I have lived that life and
I am here to tell you that a picture may tell a thousand words, but sometimes those
words are like a mask. Just because you see that great vacation photo and that
smiling family does not necessarily mean that paradise has been found.
Obviously the above video is not real (made by the
HigtonBros) but it does highlight the fact that just because someone posts
something, it may not be the whole truth. We all modify our lives on social
media. From choosing which photos to post, which to omit, which parts of our
life we write about, and which we don’t, we all do it. I would never post a
photo of myself that I did not show me in a good light and I bet many others
think the same way.
So when you catch up with old friends on social media,
remember that it can never replace the warmth of a smile, the comforting words,
or the sound of someone’s laughter. It is a tool to help stay in touch but it
should never replace your physical company. So, if you are wondering should
book that plane ticket to go visit that friend you have not seen in years, just
do it! Besides, you can always
post photos of your fabulous trip on Facebook afterwards.
Sources:
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