When I first began participating in social media, it was a scary idea. Everything said about social media discusses the pitfalls above the pleasures. Bullying and ignorance are just as prevalent on social media as in the school hallway or work restroom. But I took the chance and have a presence on a few sites. Strange, but I don’t feel any more social now than before. Maybe I feel even less human.
Sure, we sometimes offer comments or other feedback, and we can track how popular we supposedly are by who reads what we post, but are those numbers actual measurements of real life? Is the person with one hundred friends less of a human being than one with one million? All it takes is one “friend” to post a hateful comment, and sometimes all the positive ones have lost their effect.
Those of us who game on social media exchange lives and give little gifts as determined by the company producing the games. It’s a third party way of saying “Joe Blow said hello, and here is another chance to waste your time playing Sweet Bashing Story on your work time.” They know that extra lives or gifts won’t help you win the game any faster. They’ve programmed them that way.
When you’re on social media, you can still do silly things like make bad posts while drunk, upload a selfie you forgot your boss can see because you have him on your friend list, or make a grammar error that offends somebody and they and their friends cause your computer to crash with their feedback about what a jerk you are.
I really don’t want anybody to follow me on social media as if those who do are sheep just flocking around like-minded people: I want them to come on my journey with me. By my side. Respecting my opinions as I respect theirs. Don’t make jabs to put me down, and I’ll try to help lift you up.
And I’ll send you an extra life or help you get the key to unlock level 254.
I’ve realized that some of my social media friends are just curious about me: I know this because they added me to their friends list but don’t know exactly how to ask how I’ve been since the last time they saw me. We’re a shy bunch of social media friends.
So what does it mean to post videos and comments and gaming help if we’re really not being very social on what is called social media? I don’t know. While I’m figuring it out, I’ll just keep posting. Maybe somebody will read this all the way through and answer.
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