A Day in the Life...Social Media; Good or Bad?

July 17, 2018
A Day in the Life…

Social media is so ingrained in our lives’ that it is almost impossible to think about how we stayed connected before. I am still trying to decide if I think that is a good or bad thing.

There are so many positives and we cannot discount that. It is so convenient to stay in touch with family and friends. We can share photos and videos instantly instead of taking the film to the drugstore to be developed. If you were really lucky the one-hour service was available and it was awesome! Most of you probably do not remember that but it was really a thing! I can find out about the latest sale online and get my discount codes before purchasing. We know what is happening across the world in record time! I can pay my bills online, saving money on stamps. How can the post office stay in operation? I wonder about that often.

Here is where I struggle. I am not so sure that all of the exposure to everything is such a good thing. Perhaps I am just the kind of person that sticks her head in the sand, but I believe so much information coming in on a daily basis is a bit mind blowing. School shooters, for instance, get so much media coverage that you would have to live in a box to not know every detail of the situation. Do not get me wrong, I think it is a horrific experience and we do need to know about this to protect our children. However, do we need to have it on every television channel and every social media platform all day, every day for weeks? Most times it is the same information over and over. Could the extreme amount of exposure have any negative effects? I think so. 

What about children who see this? I know we say parents can control what their children are exposed to but is becoming more and more difficult due to the limitless modes of technology available. Some children develop anxiety over hearing about these incidents. The drills they have to do in schools can make young minds think about things they should never have to think about. There are children who have anxiety about going to school because they are afraid of the risk and that is very sad to me. School should be a safe and happy place for young people.

What about the mentally ill people that watch this over and over again and decide they want to be noticed in the same way? It is their ticket to become famous! Sometimes I think we give them so many details that they don’t even have to think very hard about how to pull this off.

Somewhere in all of this media sharing we have lost an innocence. I am not debating whether social media should stay or go. I think we all know that media is here to stay and it has some very positive benefits. However, I do think we have a responsibility to use our platforms carefully. Sensationalizing horrific incidents and over-exposure are a real concern for me. I am all in when it comes to turning off your electronic devices for dinners or social time, and getting back to some face- to- face conversation. We are raising a generation that value virtual relationships and are not even comfortable with real-life relationships. Do you think that will have any impact on society?

And that is my two cents’ worth.  Have a great day!