Social Media

I recognize the harm that can come from social media and its many forms. I’ve seen it do a lot of harm, but this week I discovered a new appreciation for social media and saw it fulfill a good cause that wouldn’t be able to be accomplished any other way.  Though there are positives and negatives, it is a unique tool and can be very helpful. If we choose to use it properly, and in moderation, social media is in all honesty, amazing.

Social media has some downsides. It can be very time consuming—I know this all too well. I have wasted countless hours on social media, my biggest weakness being Instagram. It is something that I turn to when I’m bored, or even when I’m not bored, I’ll still use it to avoid something like homework. Social media has been something that has interrupted my studies and interfered with my concentration. I have used social media to the extent where I know my productivity levels have dropped because of it and it was something I had to fix. Media in general can be very addictive. Social media is something that is easy to make a habit and can quickly turn into more. And this, of course, is something we need to be careful of.

I’ve also seen how social media can destroy self-image and it has become a way that allows for people to portray their lives in a non-realistic way. It brings about competition and comparisons and doesn’t display the full truth in many cases. What we don’t want is to gain or lack self-worth or self-confidence based on social media.

Recognizing some of the bad that comes with social media, I also felt extremely grateful for social media this week. This week I felt that social media is truly able to unify and serve a great purpose. Whether is was the birth of a baby or an engagement or the sharing of a scripture, it is a great way to stay in contact and reach those, and so many, that you wouldn’t be able to normally. It gives people the opportunity to see and support so many of those around them. We can teach, share, and announce what is playing such a large impact in our current lives.

As we use social media, hopefully in a positive and beneficial way, it’s important to remember to value ourselves and share things that truly matter to us. If we do this we can gain a lot from social media and it can be a great tool to take advantage of.