Commentary: Live life without having to prove it on social media
SINGAPORE: Andy Warhol predicted in the 1960s that "in the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes".
Two weeks agone, a Southwest Airlines passenger, Marty Martinez, shot to fame after he alive-streamed what he thought was his last moments, as the stricken flying hurtled toward the earth.
However, Martinez too got slammed past social media users, by those accusing him of seeking cheap fame, non providing assist to injured passengers, or violating the airline or Facebook privacy regulations.
Given the life-or-death state of affairs he was faced with, he made his choice – regardless of his intent – to live-stream on Facebook and to connect with other people to go the word out. He may not deserve those judgmental comments. But that may not be what is important here.
Instead, let'south focus on his option of spending his "last moments on globe" on live-streaming and updating his whereabouts.
What is really alarming is the fact that Martinez appears to be one of many people who are continued on social media 24/7, obsessed with posting, texting, alive-streaming so on.
HIGHLY Continued
With ubiquitous social media or social networking sites, we tin send data and emotions faster than always.
With such easy admission to an e'er-increasing amount of information, all of our fears and needs – including the fear of missing out, need for data, demand for social back up – could hands have u.s.a. hooked on social media.
On one hand, we are constantly reminded that misuse of social media, to the point of habit, leads to deterioration of our mental well-being, productivity, and fifty-fifty concrete health.
Existence connected on social media tin can drive us to brand endless social comparison of ourselves to others and to constantly seek validation from others, which may bring on a myriad mental health problems, such as depression cocky-esteem, low, anxiety, and so on.
On the other hand, existence continued on social media tin can also facilitate desirable outcomes. Social media afford broadcasting of emotionally charged messages at an unprecedentedly fast speed.
Content that went viral via social media – such every bit the video showing passenger beingness forcibly dragged off a United Airlines (UA) plane, or videos supporting the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Ice Saucepan Claiming, amongst others – attracted people to pass them along, prompted people to act, and stimulated social problem-solving.
In particular, UA paid a big price due to the vast and fast manual of the message, afforded by social media.
It may be otherwise in the past without social media.
FINE LINE
Social media as well allows u.s.a. to maintain relationships by sharing our lives with our friends.
Therefore, being connected on social media is not necessarily a concern, but being constantly "hooked" on them is. We live in a hyper-connected world where the unspoken, accepted norms are: "Pictures or it didn't happen" or "if y'all didn't post it on social media, it didn't happen".
However, with the cosmos of social media digital supermodels or social media influencers such every bit Lil Miquela, who (if a computer animation tin can be a "who") has more than one meg followers on Instagram, we demand to ponder whether posting or updating on social media actually proves what one has experienced?
Or do we all the same prefer to spend our "concluding moments on earth" on social media over other options?
The fine line that distinguishes normal social media use from addictive use lies in whether we can monitor our own behaviour and focus on worthy life goals when we can cull otherwise.
Making rational decisions regarding our social media use – rather than beingness obsessed with social media 24/7 – is an power that nosotros can cocky-teach and practice.
For instance, enquire yourself these questions: Do I really need to check how many people have watched my stories on Instagram every thirty minutes?
Do I really have to scroll downwards my Facebook page and like all of my friends' posts?
Do I really demand to spend ane hour Photoshopping my pictures earlier posting them?
Do I really accept to bank check out my Snapchat even when getting off the motorbus?
Beingness conscious of our social media utilize is the very first step to using it wisely.
A NEW HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
A popular meme online claims Wi-Fi is the very commencement level in Maslow's bureaucracy of needs coming before our physical needs. It is a cute thought, and we may be better off if nosotros focus on fulfilling higher-tiered needs via Wi-Fi, such as self-improvement or progress.
At the stop of the day, your heartthrob, your exes, your haters, your stalkers, your friends or your bosses will always exist there, online or offline. In the offline world, you will never demand to connect with all of them moment by moment.
When it comes to the world of social media, y'all can also choose to give yourself a interruption and focus on what is really going on in your life – not the ane that yous have created online.
My social media solution? I set up a rule for myself every fourth dimension I log on to my dog'southward Instagram account (don't ask me why my domestic dog has ane) – and hope not to spend more than fifteen minutes each time, 3 times a day at maximum.
That amount of time watching hilarious dog videos or browsing aesthetically highly-seasoned pictures simply suffices my daily dose of dopamine.
It tin be hard, but I believe we are all capable of taking activity.
Assistant Professor Chen Lou teaches consumer behaviour at the Wee Kim Wee Schoolhouse of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological Academy. Her research focuses on consumer psychology, marketing communications, and the furnishings of advertising and media in a social media context.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/commentary-live-life-without-having-prove-it-social-media-216111
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