How
to successfully enjoy real life while still engaging online
I'm a college student, and I have a
love/hate relationship with social media. (Similar to my relationship with
carbohydrates.) I love social media because of the consistent entertainment
(laughs) it provides, but hate it because of how social media (Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram, etc.) have robbed my generation.
Before you categorize this as an
anti-Twitter article that you'll tweet #isntworthreading, let's get a few
things straight:
•I believe the concept of social media
is great
•This article does not apply to businesses
•I have a Facebook & Twitter
account, although I haven't been convinced to download Instagram...yet
•This is simply an evaluation and
self-help guide for our generation about how we spend our lives, communicate,
and participate in life experiences
•This does not apply for those times
when you're bored out of your mind in a class/meeting, using social media to
stay awake (I get that)
OK, now that we have an understanding,
I'll continue.
Social media has created an alternate
universe for us. And consequently, people have created alternative
personalities (Twitter alter egos, so to speak). Just take a look at some of
these actual Twitter handles/usernames: @iSpeak_mines, @LusciousPink___,
@ItsPapi_Chulo, @alreadytookher, @Ottimus_Prime, @swishersosweet,
@ChanelRoyal...you get the point. While our social media selves are quoting
every verse of a Drake or Adele song, our real selves are missing out on life.
The average user our age spends 24.5
hours a week interacting with social media. That's a day. Plus some! 4 or 5
days every month...sacrificed for (insert your preferred social media site
here). People have admitted to tweeting while giving birth, getting married,
driving, going out on a first date, seeing a movie, and of course while
working.
We're being robbed of real life
enjoyment by digital life expression.
When I traveled to Spain last month, I
didn't have Internet access unless I was somewhere with free wifi (which
usually wasn't the case, y'all.) Therefore, my iPhone was useless. I was
blessed to be in Madrid, Spain for the celebration of Spain winning the
Euro2012 (BIG soccer championship/BIG deal in Europe.) The entire city was
going bananas as the team and coaches paraded through the crowded streets on
bright red double decker buses. It was the most people I've ever seen at one
time...imagine Disney World in the heat of summer...but on steroids. Lots of
people. Lots of crazy people. I wanted to share the experience with my family
and best friends back in America, but I couldn't. At first I was upset about my
global technological hindrance, but then I reevaluated the situation. I told
myself, "I'm in Spain. Right now. During a historical moment. Even though
I wish I could share this moment with loved ones, I will share it with my
classmates and others here. Everything happens for a reason. This is my life
and I'm going to live it and enjoy every second I get. I can tweet about this
later..."
After that little pep talk/reality check, I got into what was
going on around me, started screaming cheers in Spanish, jumping alongside a 70
year old Spanish woman wearing a red and yellow furry wig, and I started
feeling the pride and happiness that was engulfing me. I can honestly say that
I lived and experienced that moment.
And I've decided to bring this mentality
back to the States.
I used to be guilty of TIE. That's
Tweeting Instead of Experiencing. I know you follow people or maybe you're that
person on Twitter who goes to some incredible event/concert/show/party/whatever
and spends more time trying to create the perfect #hashtag instead of truly
participating and taking in what's happening. It seems innocent, but if you're
tweeting or updating your Facebook status while at the event, you can't really
be paying attention.
Communicating through social media has
also decreased our real life communication skills, which is sad. Think about
how many opportunities to meet new people that we've missed because we were too
busy sharing "what we're doing" to introduce ourselves to the person
sitting next to us at an event. He or she could be your next Twitter follower
or soul mate! But you'll never know if you don't take the time to say hello
with your mouth, instead of your keyboard.
When I say real life experiences, I
don't mean watching an awards show or the newest episode of Love & Hip-Hop
Atlanta. Who doesn't "BAHA" at all of the ridiculous thoughts people
post during those showings. I'm referring to going to a party and tweeting
every 2.5 minutes about the food, SOLO cup colors, shoes someone is wearing,
how drunk you're getting, etc. Sounds like you're having fun...but are you?
I've learned and realized that when I'm
really having fun, really living in the moment, or really busy - I don't have
time to share it via social media...until it's over. Next time you're somewhere
and are considering sharing, ask yourself if you're really loving what you're
doing or making what you're doing seem worth loving?
In a generation where engagements,
pregnancies, Nike sneaker heels, and sob stories cloud our News Feeds, how do
we find the happy medium between social media and real life? A few tips:
- Limit your time online: sometimes when
the foolery of Facebook or Twitter gets to be too much, I’ll delete the
applications from my phone for a few days or just make a conscious effort to
not use them. I’m forced to do other tasks and always end up being more
productive
- Share experiences after they occur:
instead of sharing what you’re doing every minute, enjoy what you’re doing then
share.
- Take a few pictures, then enjoy: with
over 5,000 photos on my laptop, I would never even think of telling someone not
to take pictures. My new tactic at events/functions is to take a few photos at
the beginning, then enjoy. (Sort of like prom.)
- Have a set time when you use social
media: whether it’s the last ten minutes of your lunch break or right before
bed, having a determined time for online socializing will make it easier to
control the time you spend in the digital world
- Use your new free time for what you
love. I feel like our generation is a half apathetic half hyper-short term
passionate one. Either we don’t care about what’s happening around us, or we’re
activists for an issue for all of two days. I really admire people with long
term and deep passions, but it takes time and dedication to develop these
passions.
See,
not bashing Twitter. Just advising that we use our time wisely so that when we
look back on our younger years, we’ll have more to show for it than a Facebook
status. After you tweet this article, be sure to step away from the
computer/put down the smart phone and live a little.
