The Irony of Social Media

There are those that will argue that social media has made this a better world. They might refer to the fact that people can connect in seconds with almost anyone in any part of the world, and information can be shared instantly.

In the first quarter of 2021 Facebook had 3.51 billion users.

In 2021 Twitter had 396.5 million users.

These numbers are overwhelming. With so many people using social media platforms, are you more socially in tune with one another? Questions arise:

Although able to share online person-to-person, when not online with people face-to-face are you more conversational and friendly?

Has social media made you more trusting?

Has social media contributed to your isolation?

Conversational & Friendly

There is an old saying, “the proof is in the pudding.” With so many users worldwide, shouldn’t you see people showing better conversational skills when you meet them face-to-face?

I have observed over and over, that strangers in almost any waiting room are mesmerized by their smartphones. Ironically, they are probably looking at a social media platform. With heads buried deep into their phones, there is little or no contact with anyone surrounding them. It is a sad state of affairs.

What has happened to people skills such as eye-to-eye contact, greetings, and good old conversation? It appears society is not progressing in this area. They have gone backwards.

Trust Issues

With so many people hiding behind fictitious identities online, people become more skeptical and suspicious of others they are dealing with, and rightly so. Unfortunately, the scammers are out there.

Although the greater majority of people on most social medial sites are who they say they are, caution is always needed. You are more connected…are you more trusting or less?

Isolation

I am sure the Covid-19 issues have not helped with isolation issues. Imagine the increase in people on social media sites during this time. Stuck at home, it was an avenue of communication with the outside world. Now, skills are necessary to come out of your cocoons and join the human race.

Zoom meetings have helped ones feeling isolated to bring people into their homes face-to-face. Still, your set of people skills will need to be expanded as you meet together in-person again.

It is too easy to get comfortable with conversing or communicating with people only online or social platforms.

The irony of social media is that people are not more socially in tune with one another.

Although there are benefits to many social media platforms, they should never replace your human one-to-one skills. Remember, there was a time when you did not have a cell phone…yes, you may have had to actually talk to someone in person, even visiting them in their home.

Try putting your phone away next time you enter a waiting room. You might be surprised at what you learn. Better yet, you might be surprised at who you meet.

Here is a poem I recently wrote on Twitter that fits quite appropriately...

Without touch

there is no

feeling.

Without identity

there is no knowing.

Men that hide

what they are.

Men that seclude

themselves behind

their space bar.

Nothing social here.

Perhaps they are

antisocial I fear.

The article was previously posted on Medium.com.

The poem recently posted on Twitter.

Social media can be a great tool if used in a balanced way. However, caution as to who you are communicating with, personal information and privacy concerns should always be considered.