I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I hate that it feels most don't have real experiences anymore, because we're so consumed in making sure we look like we're having experiences on our social media. We're so deep into our digital lives and the ideal we want to showcase that we forget what is the real version of ourselves. However, what is reality? Is reality what we document? That's certainly the only reality left of certain history where there is no one left to tell the stories of their own experiences. In which case, social media helps us document what we want to remember - which generally will be the good in our lives.
You can even photoshop your posts before filtering them to death to create almost whatever you want, on the go, in the moment. I don't do anything more than a filter but thought I'd have fun with one of my own selfies:
I've been able to make small physical changes to my jawline, chin, nose, mouth and eyes. I also smoothed out my skin and neatened my hair line. Then I went into instagram and applied a filter, vignette, tilt shift and altered the exposure. All on my iPhone.
Social media has actually really helped me with my anxiety and other health problems. Being able to read blogs about people going through the same things as me helps me stay out of depression. Whenever I feel like I can't cope I head to social media. I look for someone who is just getting to the other side who can tell me through the screen that it will get better. Someone who actually knows what it feels like to be trapped by your health who has empathy not just sympathy. At the same time, being able to hide behind my computer screen whilst I share my story means I've been able to help people too. And that feels good! Even four years ago when I got diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I wasn't able to communicate to people how it affected me. I felt vulnerable and a failure and didn't want people to see me as weak. Now, with the help of being able to hide behind my screen, I've also developed the confidence to talk up more about my health face to face with people. My friends now know what I go through to an extent and they don't see me as weak. They see me as someone who is strong despite being very unwell and they want to help. This all helps me stay away from the darker side of fibromyalgia which often ends in sufferers becoming suicidal.
Then you've also got the way social media becomes a tool in such horrible situations as last night's attacks in Paris. People were able to find safe shelter by locals posting on twitter the hashtag PorteOuvert and subsequently everyone being able to share that so more could see it. The impact that has on the lives of those in Paris seeking safety has no words.
I'd have to say, that with most things in life, the impact of social media is what you let it be. For me it's positive, I celebrate the good in peoples lives with them and I share what I want from my life. Whether that be an insight into my 'reality' by talking about my health and struggles, or whether that be a selfie of me smiling with fresh make up on a day where I may or may not smile again. I choose to feel positive for that moment and when I look back at it or the comments and likes, it helps me feel positive later in the day too.
How do you feel about social media?
