ANTI SOCIAL MEDIA

 Personal development

Well mind 

What if social media dissociate us instead of associating us?

Don't use social media to impress people; use it to impact people. — Dave Willis.

Image by study finds ltd

This too shall pass - Everything is alternate. We are all busy making

Network #friend-lits yet this may result in #friend-Least

Written by Charlene Mind'je F.

Place of publication: Kigali-Rwanda

Time reading: 7 minutes

When we talk about Apocalypse, we all often imagine the same thing: The world invaded by hordes of zombies, fire, and offensive creatures. So let's see it from another angle - What if we learn from the moment that the Internet will no longer exist?

What will happen? Is it possible that this is close to happening? 

Now, more than half of the world uses social media. A count of 58.4% billion people as reported by the Global Social Media Statistics (2022). Still ongoing ... 

Social networks - a technological field that has been buzzing since the appearance of the internet, operating through several applications such as Facebook, Twitch, Twitter, WhatsApp, Tiktok, Snapchat, Instagram, youtube, etc. Organizations and individuals have joined social networks to modernize their way of life and make their world a participatory cycle, where they exhibit their ideas while receiving those of others.

The use of this new technology expands in several areas and aspects of our lives, such as in schools, different types of organizations (small or large - with a profit or not), in politics, and even up in the religious system.

However, for some, social media are great connectors - platforms that socialize and make members of different communities in an atmosphere of interaction. For others, it is just the opposite - where the latter claim that this new technology has contributed to the isolation of several people.

"What is the reality for all? What is the correct angle of these arguments?"

Before pushing further on this, An American activist -Prince EA, has argued this issue in a questioning context that says: "Can we auto-correct humanity ?"

This article will present to you, different points of view, posed by several actors of social networks who have been living from experience for a long time already.

For this point, I used a small survey on a social question and answer website- QUORA, and many have presented several comments on this theme through different reactions :

Let's start from the opposing point

A. SOCIAL NETWORKS ISOLATE US

Have you ever felt lonely when communicating virtually with someone you don't even know on social media? Have you ever felt a sense of discomfort or dissatisfaction when you disconnect from your networks to interact with the real world?

This has become a major problem that many people are facing today, because, before the appearance of the Internet, the man had social stamina that played a big role in his mode of development and well-being. But today, it has become a real click, where the extrovert has become introvert because of social networks. A situation where a social media actor might be able to sacrifice their real-world loved ones, to mate with thousands of virtual individuals

Just try to ask this question to  public figures :  "At what cost they would be able to sacrifice their accounts and followers just to live in the real world without the internet?" Undoubtedly, you will be surprised at their reactions.

Aditi Bande, a graduate from Unacademy in India, shared her thoughts on this, saying:

" Social media can greatly affect your mental health because we start comparing their lives with others who too are showing just their best and positive sides on social media. Also, people prefer to chat rather than talk in the person causing a decrease in face-to-face communication skills." She added.

For Ibrahim Abdeali, he adds that social networks have not simply contributed to making people antisocial, but in addition, it is a bias that has locked us all in a cage of the political game of social hierarchy_in which people who hold a certain power or social status control those who are in the below state, granting them certain privileges (this would manifest itself in different dimensions: demographic, psychological and environmental).

If for some music, drawing, or even talking to a loved one are methods to release their bad liver and discomfort, more surprisingly, social media have become places of escape for others during an impasse. And they affirm that this method is much more favorable than expressing themselves in real mode with loved ones. Because, anonymity, allows them to feel much more comfortable and secured.

Whenever my mother or friend gets on my nerves, well social networks help me calm my bad tensions, especially when I'm sad, or when I have something in mind that bothers me - Emmanuella declared during our conversion on facebook.

This is not necessarily a problem for many as they claim that it is part of their hobbies, which allows them to relax.

After a long period of fatigue at work, I relax by watching the news and trends on my Instagram account - Amaryllis said.

 But is it really a relaxation for others? Or is it another chaos that affects our culture as well as our psyche, instead of using this moment to spend time with family members or those around us, and create a productive moment together or in solitary mode?

However, like a coin, the social network also has two sides.

Let's finish with the supporting side.

 B. SOCIAL NETWORKS ASSOCIATE US

Having discussed the points of view of those who lean on the negative side of the new technology and its negative effects, some affirm the opposites and present on the other hand the interests and benefits to use the communication networks.

This is the case of Avish HAKANI who also shared his ideas by supporting the fact that today if the masks of certain people fall in the eyes of the world, and that man has learned to understand himself as well as his surrounding , It's thanks to social media.

However, for Madison, she looks at this context from both sides at the same time. According to her, she supports the fact that the rate of abyss or self-development through social networks depends on the very person who uses it. If this one, chooses to build itself through, then it will be the case. But if we also choose to misuse these networks, they will not do the opposite.

For #Etoile, a French engineer, streamer on lots of games and even general culture on Twitch, says during popcorn's talk show _

social networks are not the problem because after all this is only the tool, but it is rather its content. If the man must all the time have the strong desire to search for people on social media whom to  socialize with, then that is where it affects him/her to the point of isolating the person concerned.

 To conclude this, 

Social networks provide us with the same energy that we give them. It all depends on the path we take with them. Having our heads and eyes focused on our screen should not take our eyes off the real world. Social networks can torment us and make us miss the joy of living in the real world, and turn us into real zombies. But also, if used well, social networks can change the world into a field of sociability and community support for well-being.

Spec-Tacular Mind OPinion

From my point of view, I advocate Aristotle's doctrine of golden mean , which says that whatever we do - actions or emotions, we must always strive for moderation(be in the middle between excess and deficiency.) Thus the appropriate state of being is found through the balance in our  wants, desires, and needs in every situation and activity from day to day.

So, know how to balance the two faces of social media, in order to gain the upper hand and not let worldly things control you. Let your rational element, direct you to the reason which is wisdom and discipline in all that we do.

@@@ Don't miss out to contribute on this topic  in the comments below by presenting us your side view on how social media are affecting us today