In our day and age, multiple problems arise daily that, in turn, we find ourselves riding along with the positives and the negatives, as well as the ups and downs. A state where we try to strike a balance between the pros and cons and evening out the hills of uncertainty. Much like those rides we have all been on or heard of: roller coasters. In a childlike state of mind, I see social media as a high thrill-seeking, potential projectile, and up-and-down ride. While some problems with social media may be more significant than others, I believe that the most prominent ones are addiction to technology and the loss of creativity that we "step right up" and buy a ticket to when using social media in our everyday lives.
Social media has existed for years, though the first real social media platform, "Six Degrees," was born in 1997. Platforms like "Friendster" and "MySpace" were created shortly after. Eventually, through the years, our leading social media platforms like "Snapchat," "Facebook," and "Instagram" came to be our "main attractions." Like most of the issues caused in our world, the problems with social media were put into motion as soon as it took off. As the years go by, these problems are beginning to become more and more inescapable. Users are now held tight to their seats and strapped in when scrolling the pros of social media but are surprised to fall alongside its downfalls and cons.
The term "user" makes one think again before riding. Manoush Zomorodi, in a TED Talk, called "How Boredom Can Lead to Your Most Brilliant Ideas," highlights how "the only people who refer to their customers as 'users' are drug dealers and technology companies." Putting into view how much we "use" it and how we become a salve to technology. The cave for checking just one more time how many likes and views we may have. Creates a lifestyle that Ana Homayoun, a New York Times journalist, sums up in her article "The Secret Social Media Lives of Teenagers" as "all about the likes sense of values."
Social media may have the benefits of communication between long-distance loved ones and create a place for self-expression. I have seen how social media platforms can become a quick fall of addiction to devices, total loss of creativity, and what it means and feels like to be bored. As someone from a "no social media till you are older" family, I have witnessed social media's ups and downs. I may have never ridden this roller-coaster personally, but having the standpoint of seeing both sides and choosing to ride or not holds personal control. Being a witness, I have seen the effect of the attachment to social media within my closest friends. Sometimes, the excuse for "checking my snap" in them prevents us from sharing meaningful time. In addition to this, the loss of creativity through boredom has nearly flatlined. The ability to write an essay, cultivate brilliant ideas, and think outside the box has been almost forgotten. All these powerful mental aspects have nearly blown past the speed of social media. Much like the wind zooming on when riding a roller coaster or the time we wished we had spent differently.
Finally coming to a stop, I acknowledge the "ups" social media may offer from its connection to self-expression. However, I also want to note the "downs" that add to the loss of creativity and mindful thinking. Its negative influence has produced many problems that demand our careful daily discernment. We may never see issues if we are going too fast to keep up with trends. Like Manoush Zomorodi, I also want to know what happens if we hit the brakes, stop, and let ourselves rediscover what it means to be bored and the brilliance that comes from it. That sounds like a much better roller coaster ride that all ages can ride.
Works Cited
Homayoun, Ana. “The Secret Social Media Lives of Teenagers.” The New York Times, 30 Sept. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/well/family/the-secret-social-media-lives-of-teenagers.html.
Zomorodi, Manoush. “How Boredom Can Lead to Your Most Brilliant Ideas [Video].” YouTube. 29 Aug. 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c73Q8oQmwzo