Today, I use social sites for local information, sports updates, and as a rolodex for keeping in touch with people. I also discover content through some sites.
Given my early days in online marketing, I used it to learn how the networks worked and also as a consumer.
It is important to remember as a user these sites employ a model of free use in exchange for gathering data about you and selling advertising if not your individual or aggregated data to advertisers. Most platforms manipulate users through algorithms to get users to stay on the platform as long as possible in an effort to render more ads and gather more data, regardless of how this manipulation negatively impacts its users.
They encourage the expansion of networks and play on individuals’ desire for acceptance and belonging. Moreover they encourage self fulfillment through likes and shares.
The gamification and echo chambers created by the algorithms make networks dangerous for many users who begin to believe through repetition what is put before them and become depressed or increase their depression when they don’t achieve enough likes or feel their lives are not successful or good compared to others.
Be aware of this and use social media for good things.
Instagram I started using again mostly as a gratitude journal when walking or hiking. I’m thinking of expanding it to something I’m grateful for each day. While on my walks I enjoy taking in the rising sun, the fresh air, and the soft sounds of morning. You can’t capture all of this in an image, but a picture can help you recall the moment at a later time that you might otherwise have forgotten.
Facebook is a reminder to contact people I haven’t talked to in a while or a means to reach out when needed. This is helpful in that it is a visual reminder. There are occasions where I wonder how someone is doing and then come across a post of theirs and this is enough to prompt a call or text to check-in.
We need more check-ins in life. The random, hey, was thinking about you, how are you doing? It makes you feel good when you do it as well as when someone does it for you.
There is a ton of advice on using sites, I’d encourage having perspective. People don’t present their entire self, only the parts they wish to share. Be glad for them, don’t compare yourself to your ideal of them.
And don’t trust what you read because you’ve seen it over and over. Once the algorithm thinks you like something it keeps showing you like things. It restricts your perspective by design.
Finally, be as authentic as is safe. Be aware that information is gathered technically and manually by others who may use it against you or in an attempt at identity theft.
In the end, like any tool, if you use it well it can be good and if you don’t you’ll wind up with bigger problems than you started with and some you may not have anticipated.
Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker 