Since the early 2000’s; there has been a drastic shift in how we as a people communicate, and interact. Long gone are the long landline phone conversations between people, or post cards, that were “snail-mailed” to inform friends, and family of how a vacation is going. Social Media, and the need to share information instantaneously became the new norm.
Ever since AOL Instant Messenger gave way to MySpace, which gave way to Facebook, which gave way to Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Kik, etc; Social Media has driven our focus to the now, and changed the way we communicate. This is not always for the better, as Social Media has now taken over people's lives. It is a dangerously intrusive glimmer into people's personal lives.
Society as a user, decide what is posted and not, however it is giving the world a first hand look into people's personal lives, the thoughts, beliefs, and values about some of the most sensitive subjects; and can often be used irresponsibly. If one went out and drank 15 beers on a Friday Night years ago, no one cared, no one knew except the people they were with. If one does that now, a employer can hold this against them, as any drunken thought, or move can end up on the Internet in permanent ink.
Social Media is also causing a major divide in our Country, which is already full of divisiveness. The political banter between people is insane, and Social Media gives us a front row seat to the debate. On one side, we have angry/delusional Liberals who despise anything, and everything about the Republican Party, Conservative lifestyle, or content considered mildly offensive. On the other side, there is equally delusional, stubborn, under-educated, naive, and possibly racist Conservatives, who despise the lack of fact checked Liberal allusion of utopia, and blindly follow our lying, narcissist of a President until death do us apart. (ed note: majority, not everyone).
Now, society as a country have always held these thoughts, values, and beliefs. The difference today is Social Media. People can tweet their thoughts out, 280 characters at a time to the whole world. If just how divisive the country, the Nation is today, read the replies to anything Donald Trump tweets. If people want to see how delusional we are as a country we are, look at the replies, from both sides. It is filled with hate, profanity, and lacks substance, or solution. It is just an aimless channel to vent all the insanity, and outrage that goes on in-between one’s ears. It is the least bit informative at times; it serves as an entertainment medium.
Social Media has both good and bad to it. When Houston was under water due to severe flooding from Hurricane Harvey, Houston Texans star JJ Watt used Social media to fundraise for relief efforts and raised upwards of 42 million dollars. The future of Social Media is wide open, our sanity, and mind will decide where it goes from here.
