Recently, I had a conversation with one of the great musicians in our country, and it was an eye opener. Not that I didn’t have knowledge about the conversation but her point of view gave me a whole new level of understanding. She came out one time on her Instagram platform about the extent to which social media in general affected her and she encouraged others to share their stories if they have any. While I expected good stories about how social media has helped in improving their lives, all I saw was the negativity which has left a mark in their lives forever. Inasmuch as they wish to do away with it, it is never easy.

Let’s take this from my personal experience. I am an introvert, which makes having physical contact with people quite impossible for me. Most of the friends I made through Facebook and Instagram, when given the opportunity to meet up with me for the first time always have this comment to make: “You are loud on social media but not in person.” I always don’t know whether to take that as a compliment or vice versa. But what I know is that, I am able to hide the real me from people behind social media. Not that it is a good thing but well, you may want to protect yourself from the numerous vices out there.

I developed inferiority complex because of the stuff I kept seeing on Instagram and Snapchat. I saw myself as never good enough to gain the likes and the comments. I saw myself as never owning quarter of the things people portrayed on there. It took a heavy toll on me. I had a mental breakdown! I was unable to control myself but I kept going back every spare minute I had to see everything and read what was going on there. I kept wishing for things I didn’t ever think I would wish for.

I had to come to a resolution. Am I living or dying? What am I gaining from social media? What kind of impact was it having on me? Was the invention of social media and even technology necessary in the first place? Questions like this kept popping in and out of my head. Technology is important. I could write an encyclopedia on how technology has helped me in so many ways. But also, I could write again about the negative aspect and the damage it has caused to me.

A lot of things happen on social media. Things I can’t begin to fathom sometimes. It is up to you as an individual to state what you want from it. When you get addicted, getting out is a struggle. I am finding it difficult to stay away from Instagram and Snapchat and trust me, it is as difficult as looking for a needle in hay. There is no stopping because I am determined to overcome it. I had a lot of encouragement from the great singer I mentioned in my introduction.

Social media has come to stay. How you manage the content you feed yourself with is your decision. Don’t wait for it to eat you up. Have control over it before it controls you.
#freewrite