Social media is exhausting. OCU students already have stressful lives, and we add to them by worrying about likes, posts and what our friends are doing while we’re lying in bed at home binging Parks and Recreation.
Social media is plaguing. Many of us play games with each other, whether it be a subtweet or losing a friendship over an argument about something petty like the comparison of movies.
Social media is dangerous. Social media has a direct link to depression and suicide in a collegiate environment, according to a 2015 New York Times article by Julie Scelfo.
Social Media is daunting. Some of us fall into the trap of looking at pictures of our exes moving on, getting jealous of friends hanging out without us and seeing family going on without us while we’re stuck stressing about homework.
Social media is damning. Our own president uses it to tweet out potential legislation. He uses it to intimidate other world leaders and to make fun of political rivals. Bullying is incredibly common on social media. I had issues myself in high school where fellow students bullied me on Facebook.
Social media is intimidating. We have to appear as though we’re the best person that we can be. For some of us, our profile pictures have to be precisely Photoshopped so we appear perfect. Our page has to be clear of any profanity or lewdness in case it’s being scanned by potential employers, universities, etc.
Social media is perilous. We must navigate it carefully as we attempt to talk about our lives and feelings without offending anyone. Every time I post a status, I can gauge who will react and how. I have to mentally prepare myself for what’s to come as a result of my status.
Social media is ugly. It’s not real. We portray these versions of ourselves and get so caught up in wanting to be liked on social media that we forget to put down the screen and focus on who we actually are.
Social media is shameful. I am especially culpable for everything I’ve described. Not only do I use social media for all of those things, I find myself encouraging it. Then I find myself wondering why I’m often tense and stressed out.
Social media is exhausting, plaguing, dangerous, damning, intimidating, perilous, ugly, and shameful. This has nothing to do with screen time or distracting yourself from the outside world. It’s about asking if we’re ready to take a step away from who we are online and analyze who we really are.
I need to work on my social media habits and focus more on what I am doing and less on what everyone else is doing. Only after I gain that focus will I be able to be satisfied with who I am on my iPhone screen and who I am when I look in the mirror.
It is my sincerest hope that, as we go forward, we, as students and young adults, are capable of recognizing when we are being plagued by social media.
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