What they don't want to you to know about social media!

I am not going to sit here and pretend that I have all the answers because quite frankly I don’t. However, what I do know to be true is that we are seeking the same thing in life and that is to be successful. Success is kind of a strange word if you think about it, because it can mean something totally different to each and every one of us. Our definition of success is often built from outside influences and can change over time.

We are living during an exciting time of innovation and discovery. Advancements in technology can be a wonderful thing when it used for the greater good, especially with breakthrough in science and medicine. However much like anything else in the world, it can be dangerous when it gets in the hands of the wrong people. Evil and corruption is all around us and sadly technology has become another way that we are being exploited.

With advancements in technology, consumers have unfortunately become easy targets for the negative impact of corporate greed. Through the use of social media, we have become privy to a “behind the curtain view” of the lives of strangers. With the use of filters and skillful edits, we are being manipulated by the glamorization of self-objectification.

Let’s be honest, NO ONE lives a perfect life. We all have bad hair days, failures and are fighting our own demons. Even though we all know this to be true, it is disturbing how quickly we can forget and the line between reality and make-believe can become blurred.

Just in case you thought that it was only today’s youth who are falling victim to the social media trap, think again! Just as many adults are developing unhealthy obsessions with these platforms. Statistics have shown that the vast majority of people begin their day with checking their social media feeds for likes, follows and comments. Also, a large percentage of people begin their day by checking to see if their favorite “influencer” has posted new content.

Social media has created a new form of “celebrity-like” role models or Guru’s known as influencers. These individuals typically promote a specific lifestyle and sell products and services that are related to this theme.

I am not saying that all influencers are bad, however there are many who operate with a cult-like mentality. The more someone interacts with the influencer the more they start to believe what they are telling them. Their control can become a powerful influence and therefore it is not uncommon for followers to start doing things and buying things without even realizing why. If this topic interests you one of my favorite books on this topic is a brilliant book entitled “Cultish,” by Amanda Montell.

The human brain is an amazing and complex organ. It uses shortcuts to navigate the world around us to help keep us safe and healthy. The brain is a marvelous organ however it is without vulnerabilities that can be exploited by greed.

Social media is a form of persuasive technology that capitalizing on our vulnerabilities by creating a fake reality that provides us with validation. By reinforcing these feelings of validity through likes, follows and comments it activates our brain’s reward center, which causes a rush of dopamine. To simplify things, think of dopamine as a “happy juice” it is a chemical that is linked to the feeling of pleasure and positive reinforcement. Studies have shown that the rise of dopamine caused by this form of positive reinforcement is similar to how our brain reacts to addictive substances.

Now don’t get me wrong, social media can be a great tool for communicating and for keeping up to date with current events however it needs to be used carefully and in moderation.

Please remember that not everything that you see online is true and that social media friends are not the same as real friends. Life is precious and it passes by quickly, therefore don’t get so busy creating an online presence that you forget to be present in your real life.