Three Dangers of Social Media

It’s more than just communication

When social media came on the scene it changed the game. It was obvious from the start there would be no turning back from this new communication tool. In fact, it grew into far more than just communication. Social media has become its own culture.

For some, it has even come to function as a sort of alternate universe.

There have been many positives that have come through social media. There are also some obvious dangers. These include issues of privacy, the safety of minors, and lack of transparency. However, beyond these, there are even more dangers we must watch out for.

These dangers are my focus here. I want to bring them into the spotlight because I believe they are worse dangers than those previously mentioned. You can solve the others to an extent. Adjust your privacy settings, regulate your child’s tech use, and so on. The three dangers I will deal with are subtle. They require self-control and they affect everyone. Let’s look at them.

Unrealistic expectations

Let’s be honest, nobody puts their worst on social media. Well, almost nobody. People only put their best on social media because that is what they want people to see. For many, it is all about perception.

Not only do people tend to put their best on their socials, but they also manufacture an image that does not really exist.

Many people live a life on social media that simply does not exist for them in reality.

Let me give you an example. Suppose you are scrolling Facebook and one of your friends has posted a gorgeous family picture. In the picture, everyone is wearing perfectly matching clothes. The kids look like the most well-mannered creatures you have ever seen. It is perfect harmony and they are all smiling like they just won the lottery.

Maybe they really are that happy. Maybe they’re not. But you would never know from the image because they made sure it appeared like bliss before hitting the post button.

The same goes for the young person who posts a selfie looking so confident while really feeling entirely insecure.

Here’s where it gets dangerous. I know what my real life is like. I don’t know what yours is like. If I judge my life according to your staged social media life I will be driven to despair and jealousy.

When used as a mirror, social media sets up an unrealistic expectation; a false and unattainable standard.

Always remember that there is a lot more to what you see on the other side of that screen. Not everyone is as happy as they seem. The comparison game will kill you. Don’t play it.

Regret

We have all said something we don’t mean and wish we could take back. We’ve all said the right thing, but in the wrong way or at the wrong time. The age of social media has made this issue even more pervasive.

For most of human history, there were certain natural checks and balances in place. For example, if you wanted to speak harshly to someone, you actually had to be in their presence. Maybe you found yourself filled with passionate rage at them for whatever reason. There was often enough time until you would see them you could settle down and consider how to handle the situation correctly.

It is not so in our modern age. Now you can just pull out the phone and type your way into shameful oblivion.

Words, whether heard or read, are like powerful ships with no rudders or sails. Once spoken, there is no turning them back. In this time of quick and easy access, we must be self-controlled.

Write nothing on your feed that you would regret speaking out loud before others.

Addiction

The tech bigwigs have figured out how to do it. Once you open that app, you can easily spiral into the abyss for hours. There’s always another post to view, another link to click, and another hot take to read. And don’t forget about the latest news! One must always stay up to date!

How many of us have had moments where we have caught ourselves mindlessly scrolling for way too long? It’s like snapping out of a coma and trying to figure out how much of your life you have missed.

About the time you finally snap out of it and close the app, another notification lights up your phone, pulling you back in. The reason it is dangerous is clear.

We can spend so much time digesting what is interesting that we miss out on what is meaningful.

Social media can enhance our lives and conversations, but it also has the potential to replace them. Once again, self-control is key here.

Don’t be afraid to have intentional times away from your phone. Put it in another room on silent if you have to. I promise your life will be better for it.

The moral of the story

Social media, like many other things, is a wonderful thing that can become horrible if not used correctly. Practice some self-control and be able to avoid these pitfalls.